CVE-2023-31015 in DGX H100 BMC
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2023
NVIDIA DGX H100 BMC contains a vulnerability in the REST service where a host user may cause as improper authentication issue. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to escalation of privileges, information disclosure, code execution, and denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-31015 affects the NVIDIA DGX H100 system's Baseboard Management Controller BMC which serves as a critical component for remote system management and monitoring. This BMC implementation contains a flaw in its REST service authentication mechanism that allows unauthorized host users to exploit improper authentication controls. The DGX H100 systems are high-performance computing platforms designed for artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads, making them critical infrastructure components in data centers and research environments where security is paramount. The BMC operates as a separate management processor that provides out-of-band access to system hardware and configuration settings, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to compute resources.
The technical flaw manifests in the REST service implementation where authentication checks are insufficiently enforced or improperly validated, allowing an attacker to bypass standard authentication mechanisms. This improper authentication vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and session management within the BMC's web service interface. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially manipulate authentication tokens, session identifiers, or authentication flows to gain unauthorized access to the BMC management interface. The REST service architecture typically handles API requests through HTTP methods that require proper authentication headers, but the flaw allows these protections to be circumvented through crafted requests or by exploiting weaknesses in the authentication flow logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains including privilege escalation, information disclosure, code execution, and denial of service conditions. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to elevate their privileges from regular user level to administrative access within the BMC environment, potentially gaining full control over system configuration and hardware management functions. Information disclosure risks include access to system logs, configuration files, firmware details, and other sensitive data that should remain protected. The code execution capability poses severe risks as attackers could deploy malicious payloads or modify system behavior through the compromised BMC interface. Denial of service conditions may occur when attackers manipulate the authentication system to prevent legitimate users from accessing management functions, effectively disabling critical system monitoring and control capabilities. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the DGX H100 platform's management infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-31015 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NVIDIA to address the authentication flaw in the BMC REST service. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to BMC management interfaces, limiting access to trusted administrative networks and requiring multi-factor authentication for any management access. Regular security assessments should include testing for authentication bypass vulnerabilities in remote management interfaces, utilizing both automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing approaches. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts to BMC services. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access control policies for BMC interfaces, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to management functions and that all access attempts are logged and audited. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security controls should be maintained, particularly those addressing access control and system integrity. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, emphasizing the need for robust account management and monitoring procedures to prevent exploitation of such authentication weaknesses.