CVE-2022-28635 in iLO 5
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2022
A potential local arbitrary code execution and a local denial of service (DoS) vulnerability within an isolated process were discovered in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) firmware version(s): Prior to 2.71. An unprivileged user could locally exploit this vulnerability to potentially execute arbitrary code in an isolated process resulting in a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability within that process. In addition, an unprivileged user could exploit a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability in an isolated process resulting in a complete loss of availability within that process. A successful attack depends on conditions beyond the attackers control. HPE has provided a firmware update to resolve this vulnerability in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
This vulnerability exists within HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) firmware versions prior to 2.71, representing a critical security flaw that affects the isolated process architecture of the remote management interface. The vulnerability manifests as both local arbitrary code execution and denial of service conditions within isolated processes, creating a significant risk to system integrity and availability. The flaw specifically targets the privilege escalation mechanisms within the iLO 5 firmware, allowing unprivileged local users to exploit weaknesses in process isolation boundaries. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture that was designed to maintain separation between different operational domains of the management interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and access control mechanisms within the isolated process execution environment. An attacker with local access can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code within the confines of an isolated process, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of that specific process domain. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables complete control over the targeted isolated process, which may contain sensitive management functions or system configuration data. The DoS component of this vulnerability allows an attacker to disrupt service availability within the isolated process, effectively rendering critical management functions inaccessible. This dual nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited for both persistent compromise and immediate service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28635 is substantial for organizations relying on HPE iLO 5 for remote system management. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to management functions that should remain protected from local users. This could enable attackers to modify system configurations, extract sensitive data, or completely disable management capabilities, leading to system unavailability and potential data loss. The dependency on conditions beyond attacker control suggests that while exploitation requires specific environmental factors, the potential for successful compromise remains high given the prevalence of local access points in enterprise environments. Organizations using affected firmware versions face significant risk of unauthorized system compromise and operational disruption, particularly in environments where physical access to servers is not strictly controlled.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate firmware updates to version 2.71 or later, as provided by HPE. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring of local system access to reduce the attack surface. Network segmentation and privileged access management controls can help limit potential exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) categories, reflecting both access control failures and potential memory corruption issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, with potential lateral movement capabilities through compromised isolated processes. Regular firmware update policies and security assessments should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the management infrastructure.