CVE-2021-25139
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-25139 is a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager v1.20 that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, cause denial of service, or compromise system integrity. This affects organizations using the discontinued HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager application for configuring HPE Moonshot 1500 chassis in VMware or Hyper-V environments.
💻 Affected Systems
- HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with full system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal data, pivot to other systems, or establish persistent access.
Likely Case
Denial of service through application crashes or system instability, potentially disrupting provisioning operations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if the service is isolated, network access is restricted, and proper monitoring is in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability requires sending specially crafted input to the vulnerable CGI endpoint. Given the high CVSS score and unauthenticated nature, exploitation is straightforward for skilled attackers.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: N/A
Vendor Advisory: https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf04084en_us
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
HPE recommends discontinuing use of HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager entirely as no patch is available and the product is discontinued.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Isolation
allCompletely isolate the Moonshot Provisioning Manager from all network access, including internal networks.
Configure firewall rules to block all inbound and outbound traffic to the Moonshot Provisioning Manager host
Disable Vulnerable CGI
linuxRemove or disable access to the khuploadfile.cgi endpoint if possible.
mv /path/to/khuploadfile.cgi /path/to/khuploadfile.cgi.disabled
chmod 000 /path/to/khuploadfile.cgi.disabled
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Immediately remove the Moonshot Provisioning Manager from all networks and decommission it
- Replace with alternative provisioning solutions that are currently supported and patched
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager v1.20 is installed and running. Verify the presence of khuploadfile.cgi in the web directory.Check Version:
Check application documentation or installation directory for version information (specific command varies by installation)Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the system is no longer accessible on the network and the application has been removed or disabled.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual requests to khuploadfile.cgi endpoint
- Large or malformed upload attempts
- Application crashes or abnormal termination
Network Indicators:
- Traffic to Moonshot Provisioning Manager on standard ports
- Unusual outbound connections from the provisioning manager host
SIEM Query:
source="moonshot-provisioning" AND (uri="*khuploadfile.cgi*" OR status=500 OR process="abnormal_termination")