CVE-2023-28090 in OneView
Summary
by MITRE • 04/25/2023
An HPE OneView appliance dump may expose SNMPv3 read credentials
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28090 represents a critical security flaw in HPE OneView appliance configurations that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive network management credentials. This issue specifically affects the handling of SNMPv3 read credentials within appliance dump files, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise network infrastructure management systems. The vulnerability stems from improper credential handling during system dump operations, where sensitive authentication information becomes inadvertently exposed in the generated dump files. Such exposure occurs when the appliance generates diagnostic information that includes SNMPv3 read credentials, potentially allowing unauthorized parties to gain access to network monitoring systems and potentially escalate their privileges within the managed infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the HPE OneView appliance's dump functionality failing to properly sanitize or remove sensitive authentication data before including it in system diagnostic files. When administrators or automated systems generate appliance dumps for troubleshooting or support purposes, the process does not adequately strip SNMPv3 read credentials from the output, resulting in these credentials being stored in plaintext within the dump files. This flaw aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to the improper handling of authentication credentials within system diagnostic outputs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because SNMPv3 read credentials provide access to network device configurations and monitoring data, making them valuable targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to network infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper credential management within system administration tools.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28090 extends beyond immediate credential compromise to potentially enable broader network infiltration and persistent access to managed devices. Attackers who obtain these SNMPv3 read credentials can monitor network traffic, access device configurations, and potentially manipulate network settings to create backdoors or facilitate further attacks. This vulnerability directly supports tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access, as the compromised credentials can be used to establish unauthorized network connections and access sensitive data. The exposure of these credentials can lead to cascading security failures throughout the network infrastructure, as SNMPv3 read access often provides visibility into multiple network devices and their configurations. Organizations using HPE OneView systems may face significant operational disruption if attackers leverage these compromised credentials to conduct reconnaissance, establish persistence, or execute lateral movement within their network environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or restricting SNMPv3 read credential exposure in appliance dump operations, ensuring that system administrators are aware of the potential for credential exposure during diagnostic activities, and implementing proper access controls for dump file generation and storage. The recommended approach involves updating HPE OneView appliance configurations to prevent automatic inclusion of authentication credentials in diagnostic outputs, implementing file access controls to restrict who can access dump files, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access to system diagnostic information. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of credential compromise and establish incident response procedures for handling potential credential exposure events. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their SNMPv3 configurations and credential management practices to identify any other potential exposure points within their network infrastructure, as this vulnerability may indicate broader credential management weaknesses that require additional remediation efforts.