Overview
The CVE-2025-38743 vulnerability is a significant security issue that affects Dell’s iDRAC Service Module (iSM) in versions prior to 6.0.3.0. This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by low privileged attackers with local access to execute code and elevate privileges, leading to system compromise or data leakage. Its seriousness warrants immediate attention and action from all affected parties.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-38743
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Code execution and elevation of privileges, potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Dell iDRAC Service Module (iSM) | Prior to 6.0.3.0
How the Exploit Works
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by taking advantage of the buffer access with incorrect length value in the Dell iDRAC Service Module (iSM). This allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, effectively bypassing the system’s inherent security measures. The attacker can then elevate their privileges, allowing them to access sensitive information or potentially compromise the entire system.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability could be exploited. It does not represent an actual exploit.
$ echo "malicious_code" > exploit.bin
$ ./dell_ism exploit.binIn this example, an attacker saves a malicious code snippet to a file `exploit.bin`, then runs the vulnerable Dell iSM software with `exploit.bin` as an input. This causes the software to execute the malicious code, leading to the potential for privilege escalation and system compromise.
Mitigation Guidance
The recommended solution for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor patch. Dell has released a patch for iDRAC Service Module (iSM), updating it to version 6.0.3.0. Users are advised to update their iSM to this version as soon as possible.
In cases where immediate patching is not feasible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. However, these measures are merely palliative and do not address the core vulnerability. As such, patching should still be carried out as soon as practicable.