CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-32460NVD status: Modified

PowerEdge Platform: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

CVE-2023-32460 is a high-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in PowerEdge Platform from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected PowerEdge Platform versions: Versions prior to 1.6.6; Versions prior to 1.3.6; Versions prior to 1.1.2, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Poweredge R660 Firmware to 1.6.6 or a later version.
  2. Update Poweredge R760 Firmware to 1.6.6 or a later version.
  3. Update Poweredge C6620 Firmware to 1.6.6 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
DellPowerEdge PlatformVersions prior to 1.6.6; Versions prior to 1.3.6; Versions prior to 1.1.2; Versions prior to 1.12.1; Versions prior to 1.8.1; Versions prior to 1.13.3; Versions prior to 2.13.3; Versions prior to 2.20.1; and 8 more rangesNot stated
DellPoweredge R660 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R760 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge C6620 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Mx760c Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R860 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R960 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Hs5610 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Hs5620 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R660xs Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R760xs Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R760xd2 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge T560 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R760xa Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Xr5610 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Xr8610t Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Xr8620t Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R6615 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge R7615 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Xr7620 Firmwarebefore 1.6.61.6.6
DellPoweredge Xe8640 Firmwarebefore 1.3.61.3.6
DellPoweredge Xe9640 Firmwarebefore 1.3.61.3.6
DellPoweredge Xe9680 Firmwarebefore 1.3.61.3.6
DellPoweredge R6625 Firmwarebefore 1.6.81.6.8
DellPoweredge R7625 Firmwarebefore 1.6.81.6.8

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 35 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

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

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighCNA (emc.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

Dell PowerEdge BIOS contains an improper privilege management security vulnerability. An unauthenticated local attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to privilege escalation.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
  • When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.

More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in PowerEdge Platform

All PowerEdge Platform vulnerabilities

Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities

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