CVE-2023-28083 in Integrated Lights-Out 4
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2023
A remote Cross-site Scripting vulnerability was discovered in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 6 (iLO 6), Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) and Integrated Lights-Out 4 (iLO 4). HPE has provided software updates to resolve this vulnerability in HPE Integrated Lights-Out.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28083 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting HPE Integrated Lights-Out 6 iLO 6, Integrated Lights-Out 5 iLO 5, and Integrated Lights-Out 4 iLO 4 management interfaces. This remote exploitation vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web interfaces that are subsequently executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected systems operate within enterprise data center environments where iLO interfaces provide out-of-band management capabilities for server hardware, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management functions. The flaw resides in the web-based management interface handling of user-supplied input parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web pages, creating an attack surface that can be exploited from remote locations without requiring physical access to the target systems.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the iLO web interface components. When user-provided data is processed through the management interface and subsequently displayed in web pages without proper encoding or sanitization, malicious script code can be injected and executed within the context of legitimate user sessions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious web content to execute code on target systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because iLO interfaces are designed to be accessible remotely for system administration purposes, meaning that attackers could potentially exploit this flaw from anywhere on the network without requiring local access to the target hardware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it could enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised management environment. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies to hijack administrator sessions, modify system configurations, access sensitive management data, or even escalate privileges within the iLO interface. Given that iLO interfaces provide administrative access to server hardware, successful exploitation could allow attackers to remotely compromise entire server fleets, particularly in environments where multiple servers are managed through centralized iLO interfaces. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers could target multiple systems simultaneously without requiring physical presence, making it a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure. Organizations using these management interfaces may face potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and complete loss of administrative control over affected hardware.
HPE has addressed this vulnerability through the release of software updates specifically designed to remediate the cross-site scripting flaw in affected iLO versions. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the latest firmware updates provided by HPE, which include enhanced input validation routines and proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection. Organizations should also implement network segmentation strategies to limit access to iLO interfaces to authorized administrative networks only, and consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for iLO access. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that all iLO interfaces have been properly updated. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of the updated firmware to ensure that legitimate administrative functions remain operational while the security vulnerability is eliminated.