CVE-2023-34853

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-34853?

CVE-2023-34853 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). A buffer overflow vulnerability in Supermicro X12DPG-QR motherboard BIOS version 1.4b allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by manipulating the SmcSecurityEraseSetupVar variable. This affects systems running the vulnerable BIOS version and requires local access to exploit. Attackers could potentially gain elevated privileges or persistent access to the system.

7.8 HIGH

Buffer Overflow

📋 TL;DR

A buffer overflow vulnerability in Supermicro X12DPG-QR motherboard BIOS version 1.4b allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code by manipulating the SmcSecurityEraseSetupVar variable. This affects systems running the vulnerable BIOS version and requires local access to exploit. Attackers could potentially gain elevated privileges or persistent access to the system.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Supermicro X12DPG-QR motherboard

Versions: BIOS version 1.4b

Operating Systems: All operating systems running on affected hardware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects systems with the specific BIOS version. Requires local access to the system console or management interface.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete system compromise with persistent BIOS-level malware, allowing attackers to bypass operating system security controls, maintain persistence across reboots, and potentially affect hardware functionality.

🟠

Likely Case

Local privilege escalation allowing attackers to gain administrative access to the system, install additional malware, or access sensitive data.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact with proper access controls preventing unauthorized local access and BIOS write protection enabled.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This vulnerability requires local access to the system and cannot be exploited remotely over the network.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Internal attackers with physical or remote console access could exploit this to gain persistent control of critical servers.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires understanding of BIOS/UEFI internals and ability to manipulate BIOS variables. No public exploit code has been identified.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: X12DPG-QR_1.4b_X1.02.61_SUM2.10.0

Vendor Advisory: https://www.supermicro.com/en/support/security_BIOS_Aug_2023

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download BIOS update from Supermicro support site. 2. Create bootable USB with update utility. 3. Boot to USB and run BIOS update. 4. System will restart automatically. 5. Verify BIOS version after update.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict physical and console access

all

Limit physical access to servers and restrict console/management interface access to authorized personnel only.

Enable BIOS write protection

all

Configure BIOS settings to prevent unauthorized BIOS modifications if supported by the motherboard.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Isolate affected systems in secure network segments with strict access controls
Implement enhanced monitoring for unauthorized BIOS modification attempts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check BIOS version in system BIOS setup or using Supermicro IPMI interface. Vulnerable if version is 1.4b without the patch.

Check Version:

For Linux: dmidecode -t bios | grep Version; For Windows: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify BIOS version shows X12DPG-QR_1.4b_X1.02.61_SUM2.10.0 or later in BIOS setup menu.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

BIOS/UEFI firmware update logs showing unauthorized modifications
System logs showing unexpected reboots or BIOS configuration changes

Network Indicators:

Unusual IPMI/BMC network traffic patterns
Unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces

SIEM Query:

source="bios_logs" AND (event_type="firmware_update" OR event_type="configuration_change") AND user NOT IN authorized_users

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-34853

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-787

Published: August 22, 2023

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://www.supermicro.com/Bios/softfiles/17136/X12DPG-QR_1.4b_X1.02.61_SUM2.10.0.zip. Product
https://www.supermicro.com/en/support/security_BIOS_Aug_2023 Vendor Advisory
https://www.supermicro.com/Bios/softfiles/17136/X12DPG-QR_1.4b_X1.02.61_SUM2.10.0.zip. Product
https://www.supermicro.com/en/support/security_BIOS_Aug_2023 Vendor Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

H11dsi Firmware by Supermicro

H11dsi Nt Firmware by Supermicro

H11dst B Firmware by Supermicro

H11dsu In Firmware by Supermicro

H12dgo 6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12dgq Nt6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsg O Cpu Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsg Q Cpu6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsi N6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsi Nt6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12dst B Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsu In Firmware by Supermicro

H12dsu Inr Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssff An6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssfr An6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssg An6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssg Anp6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssl C Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssl Ct Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssl I Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssl Nt Firmware by Supermicro

H12sst Ps Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw An6 Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw In Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw Inl Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw Inr Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw Nt Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw Ntl Firmware by Supermicro

H12ssw Ntr Firmware by Supermicro

H13dsg O Cpu D Firmware by Supermicro

H13dsg O Cpu Firmware by Supermicro

H13dsh Firmware by Supermicro

H13sae Mf Firmware by Supermicro

H13srd F Firmware by Supermicro

H13ssf Firmware by Supermicro

H13ssh Firmware by Supermicro

H13ssl N Firmware by Supermicro

H13ssl Nt Firmware by Supermicro

H13sst G Firmware by Supermicro

H13sst Gc Firmware by Supermicro

H13ssw Firmware by Supermicro

X11dac Firmware by Supermicro

X11dai N Firmware by Supermicro

X11ddw L Firmware by Supermicro

X11ddw Nt Firmware by Supermicro

X11dgo T Firmware by Supermicro

X11dgq Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpff Sn Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpfr S Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpfr Sn Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpg Ot Cpu Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpg Qt Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpg Sn Firmware by Supermicro

X11dph I Firmware by Supermicro

X11dph T Firmware by Supermicro

X11dph Tq Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpi N Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpi Nt Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpl I Firmware by Supermicro

X11dps Re Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpt B Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpt Bh Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpt L Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpt Ps Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu V Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu X Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu Xll Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu Z\+ Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpu Ze\+ Firmware by Supermicro

X11dpx T Firmware by Supermicro

X11dsc Firmware by Supermicro

X11dsf E Firmware by Supermicro

X11dsn Ts Firmware by Supermicro

X11dsn Tsq Firmware by Supermicro

X11opi Cpu Firmware by Supermicro

X11qph\+ Firmware by Supermicro