Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-28177 is a buffer overflow in the LDAP configuration page of specific ASUS BMC firmware. A high-privileged remote user could crash the BMC web service, disrupting remote server management. The sources do not show data theft, code execution, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted infrastructure resilience issue. It is not currently evidenced as actively exploited, but exposed BMC management interfaces can affect server operations. Prioritize internet-reachable or broadly accessible management networks first.
Technical view
The ASUS BMC firmware web management LDAP configuration function does not validate user-supplied string length, causing CWE-120 buffer overflow. CVSS 3.1 is 4.9 with network access, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to ASUS BMC firmware for Z10PR-D16 and ASMB8-iKVM version 1.14.51, and Z10PE-D16 WS version 1.14.2, where the BMC web management interface is reachable by privileged users.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false and cites no public active exploitation. Exploitation requires high privileges and network access to the BMC web interface. Expected impact is abnormal termination of the web service, not confirmed compromise of confidentiality or integrity.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports an authenticated availability-impact buffer overflow in the LDAP configuration function. Sources do not name a fixed version, exploit details, or active exploitation. Avoid assuming broader ASUS BMC coverage beyond the listed products and firmware versions.
Mitigation direction
- Check ASUS and TWCERT guidance for fixed firmware or official workarounds.
- Upgrade affected BMC firmware when a vendor-approved fixed version is available.
- Restrict BMC web management access to trusted administrative networks.
- Review privileged BMC accounts and remove unnecessary access.
- Monitor BMC web service crashes or unexpected restarts.
Validation and detection
- Inventory ASUS servers and BMC modules matching the affected product list.
- Confirm BMC firmware versions against 1.14.51 and 1.14.2.
- Verify whether LDAP configuration is enabled on reachable BMC web interfaces.
- Check whether BMC access is limited to approved admin networks.
- Review logs for BMC web service abnormal termination events.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-120: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-28177 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.9 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H1.23.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.9MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.asus.com/content/ASUS-Product-Security-Advisory/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.asus.com/tw/support/callus/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.twcert.org.tw/tw/cp-132-4547-88e43-1.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.