CVE-2023-25545 – This vulnerability in Intel Server Board BMC fi... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-25545?

CVE-2023-25545 has a CVSS score of 8.2 (HIGH). This vulnerability in Intel Server Board BMC firmware allows privileged users to escalate privileges through improper buffer restrictions. It affects systems with Intel Server Board BMC firmware versions before 2.90. Attackers with local access can potentially gain higher privileges on the BMC.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Intel Server Board BMC firmware allows privileged users to escalate privileges through improper buffer restrictions. It affects systems with Intel Server Board BMC firmware versions before 2.90. Attackers with local access can potentially gain higher privileges on the BMC.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Intel Server Board BMC firmware

Versions: All versions before 2.90

Operating Systems: Not OS-dependent - affects BMC firmware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Affects Intel Server Boards with vulnerable BMC firmware versions. Requires privileged user access to BMC interface.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

A privileged attacker gains full administrative control over the BMC, potentially compromising the entire server management infrastructure and enabling persistent access.

🟠

Likely Case

Privileged users (like administrators) escalate to higher BMC privileges, enabling unauthorized management actions and potential server compromise.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to authorized administrative actions with audit trails.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW (BMC interfaces typically not internet-facing, though could be exposed via misconfiguration)

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH (Requires local/network access to BMC, which privileged users typically have)

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires existing privileged access to BMC interface. No public exploit details available as of analysis.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 2.90 or later

Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00839.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download BMC firmware version 2.90+ from Intel support site. 2. Access BMC web interface or CLI. 3. Upload and apply firmware update. 4. Reboot BMC and verify update.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict BMC Access

all

Limit network access to BMC interfaces to only authorized management networks and users

Use firewall rules to restrict access to BMC IPs/ports
Implement network segmentation for management interfaces

Strengthen Authentication

all

Enforce strong authentication policies and multi-factor authentication for BMC access

Configure BMC for strong password policies
Enable MFA if supported

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls and monitoring for BMC interfaces
Isolate BMC management network from production networks

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check BMC firmware version via web interface or IPMI commands. Versions before 2.90 are vulnerable.

Check Version:

ipmitool mc info | grep 'Firmware Revision' or check BMC web interface

Verify Fix Applied:

Confirm BMC firmware version is 2.90 or later after update.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual BMC authentication events
BMC firmware modification attempts
Privilege escalation attempts in BMC logs

Network Indicators:

Unusual traffic to BMC management ports (typically 443, 623)
Multiple failed authentication attempts to BMC

SIEM Query:

source="BMC" AND (event_type="authentication_failure" OR event_type="privilege_escalation")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-25545

CVSS v3 Score: 8.2 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-92

Published: May 10, 2023

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00839.html Patch,Vendor Advisory
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00839.html Patch,Vendor Advisory

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