CVE-2026-50031 in FreeIPMI
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2026
ipmi-oem in FreeIPMI before 1.16.18 has exploitable buffer overflows on response messages. The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification defines a set of interfaces for platform management. It is implemented by a large number of hardware manufacturers to support system management. It is most commonly used for sensor reading (e.g., CPU temperatures through the ipmi-sensors command within FreeIPMI) and remote power control (the ipmipower command). The ipmi-oem client command implements a set of a IPMI OEM commands for specific hardware vendors. If a user has supported hardware, they may wish to use the ipmi-oem command to send a request to a server to retrieve specific information. Two subcommands "ipmi-oem dell get-active-directory-config" and "ipmi-oem fujitsu get-sel-entry-long-text" were found to have exploitable buffer overflows on response messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2026
The vulnerability identified in FreeIPMI versions prior to 1.16.18 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the ipmi-oem component that directly impacts the Intelligent Platform Management Interface protocol implementation. This flaw affects the OEM command processing functionality specifically targeting Dell and Fujitsu hardware vendors through the dedicated subcommands "ipmi-oem dell get-active-directory-config" and "ipmi-oem fujitsu get-sel-entry-long-text". The IPMI specification serves as a standardized framework for platform management across numerous hardware manufacturers, with FreeIPMI providing open source implementations that enable system administrators to perform remote monitoring and control operations including sensor data collection and power management through commands like ipmi-sensors and ipmipower. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the response message handling code, where the software fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability occurs when the ipmi-oem client processes response messages from supported hardware systems, specifically during the execution of the two identified subcommands. When the software receives a response message that exceeds the allocated buffer size, it overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a significant security risk given that IPMI interfaces are typically accessible over network connections and may be exposed to untrusted network environments. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate memory contents through carefully crafted responses from vulnerable hardware, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning as IPMI implementations are commonly deployed in data centers, server rooms, and enterprise environments where they may be accessible from multiple network segments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive management interfaces. System administrators who utilize the ipmi-oem command for vendor-specific hardware configuration and monitoring may unknowingly expose their environments to exploitation when communicating with supported hardware devices. The vulnerability affects the broader ecosystem of IPMI implementations since FreeIPMI serves as a commonly used open source tool for IPMI protocol interaction, potentially affecting numerous enterprise and data center environments where remote system management is critical. Network-based attacks can leverage this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target systems, making it particularly dangerous in environments where IPMI interfaces are not properly isolated from public networks. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, system information discovery, and T1059, command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could enable attackers to gather system information and execute arbitrary commands.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of FreeIPMI installations to version 1.16.18 or later, which contains the necessary buffer overflow protections and input validation improvements. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to IPMI interfaces, particularly ensuring that these management interfaces are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. The principle of least privilege should be applied to IPMI user accounts, limiting access to only necessary functions and ensuring that administrative credentials are properly protected. Additional security controls such as IPMI interface encryption, authentication hardening, and monitoring of suspicious IPMI traffic patterns should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls to limit which systems can communicate with IPMI interfaces, as well as regular security assessments of IPMI implementations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other management protocols and interfaces.