CVE-2023-23696
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2023-23696 is an improper authorization vulnerability in Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band software that allows locally authenticated malicious users to write arbitrary files to the system. This affects versions prior to 4.3.1, potentially enabling privilege escalation or system compromise. Organizations using Dell systems with vPro Out of Band management are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise through privilege escalation leading to persistent backdoor installation, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to gain administrative privileges and install malware or modify system configurations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper access controls, but still potential for local user to gain elevated privileges on affected systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local authenticated access. The vulnerability involves improper authorization checks that could be leveraged by malicious local users.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 4.3.1
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band version 4.3.1 from Dell Support. 2. Run the installer with administrative privileges. 3. Follow on-screen instructions. 4. Restart the system when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local User Privileges
windowsLimit standard user accounts to prevent exploitation by malicious local users.
Disable vPro Out of Band Management
windowsTemporarily disable the vulnerable component if not required for operations.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for suspicious file write activities by local users.
- Isolate affected systems from critical network segments and implement application whitelisting.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check installed version of Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band via Programs and Features or using PowerShell: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like '*Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band*'} | Select-Object Name, VersionCheck Version:
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like '*Dell Command Intel vPro Out of Band*'} | Select-Object VersionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 4.3.1 or higher using the same version check command.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual file write operations by standard user accounts to system directories
- Failed authorization attempts in application logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from systems with vPro management
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND ProcessName LIKE '%Dell Command Intel vPro%' AND CommandLine CONTAINS 'write' OR 'copy'🔗 References
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000208331/dsa-2023-029-dell-command-intel-vpro-out-of-band-security-update-for-an-improper-authorization-vulnerability
- https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000208331/dsa-2023-029-dell-command-intel-vpro-out-of-band-security-update-for-an-improper-authorization-vulnerability
