CVE-2023-32450 in Power Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2023
Dell Power Manager, Versions 3.3 to 3.14 contains an Improper Access Control vulnerability. A low-privileged malicious user may potentially exploit this vulnerability to perform arbitrary code execution with limited access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32450 affects Dell Power Manager software versions 3.3 through 3.14, representing a critical improper access control flaw that exposes systems to potential exploitation by low-privileged attackers. This vulnerability resides within the software's permission handling mechanisms, where insufficient validation of user privileges allows unauthorized access to system resources that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and privilege verification processes that fail to properly authenticate and authorize user actions within the power management framework. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary code with limited access rights, though the scope of their operational capabilities remains constrained by the software's inherent access restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic access control weakness that aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control in software systems. The flaw manifests when the application fails to enforce proper authorization checks during critical operations, allowing malicious users to bypass standard permission boundaries. This improper access control vulnerability operates at the application layer where user requests are processed without adequate validation of the requesting user's privileges. The software's power management functions, which typically require elevated permissions for system-level operations, become accessible to users with minimal privileges, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations deploying Dell Power Manager across their infrastructure, particularly in environments where multiple user roles exist with varying levels of system access. The limited access execution capability means that attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can perform actions that would normally require administrative privileges, potentially leading to system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network. The impact extends beyond immediate system access, as this vulnerability can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks that leverage the compromised system to gain broader network access or escalate privileges to full administrative control. Organizations with multiple Dell Power Manager installations across their network infrastructure face heightened risk exposure, particularly in environments where security controls are not properly segmented.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-32450 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that address the improper access control vulnerability, as Dell has likely released patches to resolve the privilege escalation issues. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit user access to power management functions, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to interact with the power management software. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Dell Power Manager versions within their environments, and implement principle of least privilege configurations to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar access control weaknesses in other enterprise applications and systems, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities that could be exploited through different attack vectors as outlined in the attack tactics and techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework.