CVE-2023-3259 in iBoot-PDU
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2023
The Dataprobe iBoot PDU running firmware version 1.43.03312023 or earlier is vulnerable to authentication bypass. By manipulating the IP address field in the "iBootPduSiteAuth" cookie, a malicious agent can direct the device to connect to a rouge database.Successful exploitation allows the malicious agent to take actions with administrator privileges including, but not limited to, manipulating power levels, modifying user accounts, and exporting confidential user information
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2023
The Dataprobe iBoot PDU represents a critical network infrastructure device used for power distribution management in data centers and enterprise environments. This device operates as a web-based management interface that allows administrators to monitor and control power delivery to connected equipment. The vulnerability exists within the authentication mechanism of the device's firmware version 1.43.03312023 and earlier, which creates a fundamental security flaw in how the system validates user credentials and session management. The device's authentication bypass vulnerability stems from improper validation of the iBootPduSiteAuth cookie, specifically targeting the IP address field that is manipulated to redirect database connections.
The technical flaw manifests through a lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the cookie handling mechanism. When a user attempts to authenticate, the system constructs a cookie containing an IP address field that should be validated against legitimate database endpoints. However, the firmware fails to properly validate this field, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary IP addresses that redirect the device's database connection to a malicious server. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and specifically relates to CWE-345, which covers insufficient verification of data authenticity. The flaw enables attackers to bypass the authentication process entirely by manipulating session tokens rather than attempting to brute force credentials or exploit other authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation grants full administrative privileges to malicious actors. Attackers can manipulate power levels to disrupt services, modify user accounts to establish persistent access, and export confidential user information that may include sensitive operational data or authentication credentials. This represents a critical compromise of the device's integrity and confidentiality, potentially allowing attackers to cause significant disruption to critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require physical access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with basic network reconnaissance capabilities. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of a software vulnerability for credential access, and T1078, which covers valid accounts usage for persistence and privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the authentication bypass vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical systems, and monitoring for suspicious cookie manipulation attempts. The device configuration should be reviewed to ensure proper access controls and authentication mechanisms are in place. Additionally, network administrators should implement intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to manipulate the iBootPduSiteAuth cookie and monitor for connections to unauthorized database endpoints. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems and network infrastructure devices should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities that may exist in other networked devices within the enterprise environment.