CVE-2026-85508 in FreeIPMI
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2026
ipmi-oem in FreeIPMI before 1.6.19 has a stack-based buffer overflow in _output_dell_system_info_cmc_ipv6_info in ipmi-oem/ipmi-oem-dell.c (cmc-ipv6-info subcommand to dell get-system-info).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE ID associated with FreeIPMI versions prior to 1.6.19 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the IPMI OEM implementation for Dell systems. This flaw is specifically located in the _output_dell_system_info_cmc_ipv6_info function, which handles the processing of IPv6 information retrieved from the Chassis Management Controller during system info queries. The root cause lies in insufficient bounds checking when parsing or formatting network address data returned by the BMC. When the ipmi-oem utility executes the dell get-system-info command with the cmc-ipv6-info subcommand, it allocates a fixed-size buffer on the stack to store intermediate results of IPv6 address strings. However, if the remote management controller returns an IPv6 address string that exceeds the expected length or contains unexpected formatting variations, the application fails to validate the input size against the allocated buffer capacity. This lack of validation allows data to be written beyond the boundaries of the stack-allocated variable, overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and saved frame pointers.
From a technical perspective, this is classified under CWE-121, which denotes a stack-based buffer overflow. The exploitation potential is significant because stack-based overflows provide an attacker with direct control over program execution flow if they can manipulate the overwritten return address or function pointer. In the context of FreeIPMI, which is often used by system administrators and automated monitoring tools to interact with out-of-band management interfaces, this vulnerability could be triggered remotely if an adversary controls or compromises a BMC that responds to these queries. By crafting a malicious response containing an oversized IPv6 string, an attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution on the host running FreeIPMI. This is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where IPMI tools are run with elevated privileges to perform hardware-level diagnostics and configuration changes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes or denial of service scenarios typical of many buffer overflows. Successful exploitation allows for remote code execution, which can lead to full system compromise if the user executing FreeIPMI has administrative rights on the host machine. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, as an attacker could inject commands through the compromised process. Furthermore, since IPMI interfaces often provide access to sensitive hardware information such as sensor readings, firmware versions, and power control capabilities, gaining code execution on a system running FreeIPMI may serve as a pivot point for further lateral movement within the data center infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the management plane, potentially allowing attackers to disable security logging or install persistent backdoors via the BMC interface itself if they can escalate privileges from the compromised host.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading to FreeIPMI version 1.6.19 or later, where this specific buffer overflow has been patched by implementing proper length checks and using safer string handling functions that prevent out-of-bounds writes. Organizations relying on older versions should consider restricting access to IPMI interfaces through network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, running FreeIPMI with the principle of least privilege can reduce the impact if exploitation occurs by limiting the permissions available to the compromised process. Security monitoring solutions should also be configured to detect anomalous behavior in systems executing IPMI commands, such as unexpected outbound connections or unusual memory access patterns that might indicate an active exploit attempt against this vulnerability.