How to Fix CVE-2024-13804: A Critical Authentication Vulnerability in HPE Insight Cluster Management Utility?

A critical security flaw has been identified in Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Insight Cluster Management Utility (CMU). This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-13804, involves an improper authentication mechanism that could allow unauthorized network-based attacks without requiring any user interaction. This article provides security professionals with the information needed to understand, detect, and remediate this high-risk vulnerability, ensuring the protection of their HPE Insight CMU deployments. This guide is designed for professionals in DevSecOps, application security, product security, vulnerability management, penetration testing, and security operations.

A Short Introduction to HPE Insight Cluster Management Utility

HPE Insight Cluster Management Utility (CMU) is a software tool designed to simplify the management and monitoring of high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. It provides a centralized interface for tasks such as system deployment, health monitoring, software updates, and configuration management. CMU helps administrators efficiently manage large-scale computing environments, ensuring optimal performance and availability of critical resources. Due to its central role in managing cluster infrastructure, any vulnerability in CMU can have significant implications for the security and stability of the entire cluster.

Summary of CVE-2024-13804

CVE-2024-13804 highlights a critical flaw within HPE Insight Cluster Management Utility version 8.2. The root cause lies in an improper authentication implementation, allowing unauthorized network-based attacks. An attacker does not need any credentials or user interaction to exploit this vulnerability. This flaw stems from a failure to properly validate or enforce authentication controls, leaving the system exposed to unauthorized access and control.

Impact of CVE-2024-13804

The exploitation of CVE-2024-13804 can lead to severe consequences, potentially compromising the entire cluster managed by HPE Insight CMU. Since the vulnerability allows network-based attacks without requiring authentication, an attacker can gain complete control over the system.

Specifically, a successful exploit could enable attackers to:

The high CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability, as it allows for a full system compromise via a network-based attack without any authentication requirements. Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation to prevent potential exploitation and minimize the risk of significant damage to their HPC environments.

Products Affected by CVE-2024-13804

The following product is affected by this vulnerability:

It is crucial to verify the version of HPE Insight CMU deployed in your environment to determine if it is vulnerable. Systems running CMU version 8.2 are at immediate risk and require remediation.

How to Check If Your Product Is Vulnerable?

Determining if your HPE Insight Cluster Management Utility is vulnerable to CVE-2024-13804 involves a straightforward version check:

Regularly checking the version of your software is a fundamental security practice.

How to Fix CVE-2024-13804?

Given the severity of CVE-2024-13804, immediate action is required to mitigate the risk.

Primary Remediation Strategy:

Workarounds and Interim Mitigations (If Patch Is Not Immediately Available):

If a patch is not yet available, consider the following measures to reduce the risk of exploitation:

Note: Because a patch may not be available yet, it is essential to monitor official HPE channels for any security updates or patches related to this vulnerability.

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