CVE-2024-36432 in X11DPG-HGX2
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2024
An arbitrary memory write vulnerability was discovered in Supermicro X11DPG-HGX2, X11PDG-QT, X11PDG-OT, and X11PDG-SN motherboards with BIOS firmware before 4.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical arbitrary memory write flaw affecting Supermicro motherboards in the X11DPG-HGX2, X11PDG-QT, X11PDG-OT, and X11PDG-SN product lines. The issue manifests within the BIOS firmware implementation where insufficient input validation allows for unauthorized memory modifications that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it resides at the firmware level, making it difficult to detect and remediate through conventional software security measures. This type of flaw falls under CWE-787 which describes out-of-bounds writes, and represents a fundamental failure in memory management within the system firmware.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate firmware components to write data to arbitrary memory locations. This capability enables potential privilege escalation attacks, system compromise, and the possibility of persistent backdoors within the firmware itself. Attackers may leverage this flaw to modify critical system parameters, inject malicious code into the boot process, or gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that BIOS firmware operates with the highest privilege level, making any memory corruption potentially catastrophic for system security and integrity. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Local Port Scan" and T1542.001 which covers "Pre-OS Boot" methods of attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate system compromise to encompass long-term security risks and potential supply chain attacks. Organizations utilizing affected Supermicro motherboards face significant exposure, particularly in environments where firmware security is not regularly monitored or updated. The vulnerability affects multiple motherboard models within the Supermicro X11 series, indicating a potential design flaw that may be present across several product variants. Systems running firmware versions prior to 4.4 are at risk, making this vulnerability particularly relevant for organizations with legacy hardware or those that do not maintain regular firmware update schedules. The attack surface includes any scenario where an attacker can interact with the system firmware interface or exploit other vulnerabilities that could lead to firmware manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate firmware updates to version 4.4 or later, which Supermicro has released to address the specific memory write issue. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected systems and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Additionally, implementing firmware integrity monitoring solutions can help detect unauthorized modifications to system firmware. Security teams should consider employing hardware security modules or trusted platform modules to provide additional protection layers against firmware-level attacks. The remediation process should include thorough testing of firmware updates to ensure compatibility with existing system configurations. Organizations may also want to implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors that could lead to firmware exploitation. Regular firmware update policies and vulnerability scanning procedures should be established to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware across all system components.