CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-0172NVD status: Analyzed

PowerEdge Platform: Improper Privilege Management

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-0172 is a high-severity improper privilege management 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. The record lists versions 1.5.6, 1.1.3, 1.1.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating PowerEdge Platform to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.15% 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 Platform to 1.5.6 or 1.1.3 or 1.1.4 or 1.2.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update poweredge_r660_firmware to 1.5.6 or a later version.
  3. Update poweredge_r760_firmware to 1.5.6 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 Platformbefore 1.5.6; before 1.1.3; before 1.1.4; before 1.2.5; before 1.3.6; before 1.4.6; before 1.11.2; before 1.7.3; and 6 more ranges1.5.6, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.2.5, 1.3.6, 1.4.6
Dellpoweredge_r660_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r760_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_c6620_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_mx760c_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r860_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r960_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_hs5610_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_hs5620_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r660xs_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r760xs_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r760xd2_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_t560_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_r760xa_firmwarebefore 1.1.31.1.3
Dellpoweredge_xe9680_firmwarebefore 1.1.31.1.3
Dellpoweredge_xr5610_firmwarebefore 1.1.41.1.4
Dellpoweredge_xr8620t_firmwarebefore 1.1.31.1.3
Dellpoweredge_xr7620_firmwarebefore 1.5.61.5.6
Dellpoweredge_xe8640_firmwarebefore 1.2.51.2.5
Dellpoweredge_xe9640_firmwarebefore 1.3.61.3.6
Dellpoweredge_r6615_firmwarebefore 1.4.61.4.6
Dellpoweredge_r7615_firmwarebefore 1.4.61.4.6
Dellpoweredge_r6625_firmwarebefore 1.4.61.4.6
Dellpoweredge_r7625_firmwarebefore 1.4.61.4.6
Dellpoweredge_r650_firmwarebefore 1.11.21.11.2

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 3.17.9HighCNA (emc.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

Dell PowerEdge Server BIOS and Dell Precision Rack BIOS contain 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: Improper Privilege Management

The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.

More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in PowerEdge Platform

All PowerEdge Platform vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities

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