CVE-2013-4786: Dell/Supermicro/HPE BMCs — IPMI Hash Leak Enables Remote Takeover (July 2026)

CVE-2013-4786 — Dell, Supermicro, HPE BMCs

CVE-2013-4786 is a high-severity vulnerability in the IPMI v2.0 specification affecting Baseboard Management Controllers (BMCs) from Dell, Supermicro, HPE, and major GPU providers. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to remotely extract password-derived hashes from exposed BMCs before authentication, enabling offline password guessing and potential full system compromise. There is no patch, and the vulnerability is actively exploitable on over 24,650 internet-facing systems.

Attack Vector

Attackers scan for internet-exposed BMCs running IPMI v2.0, then initiate a handshake to trigger the device to leak password hashes prior to authentication. These hashes can be harvested without valid credentials. GPU-accelerated cracking tools can rapidly recover weak or factory-set passwords, granting attackers remote access below the operating system layer. No user interaction or prior compromise is required; exposure alone is sufficient for exploitation.

Who Is at Risk

Affected systems include BMCs from Dell, Supermicro, HPE, and GPU server providers deployed in enterprise, cloud, and AI data center environments. Any organization with IPMI v2.0-enabled BMCs accessible from the internet is at immediate risk. Confirmed exposures include multi-tenant GPU infrastructure and enterprise servers worldwide.

Patch & Mitigate

• Patch: No patch available; the vulnerability is inherent to the IPMI v2.0 spec.
• Workaround: Immediately remove BMCs from direct internet exposure. Restrict IPMI access to trusted management networks and enforce strong, unique passwords. Disable IPMI where possible.
• Detect: Monitor for unsolicited IPMI handshake attempts and abnormal authentication traffic. Review logs for failed login attempts and unexpected BMC access.

MITRE ATT&CK

• TA0001 — Initial Access: Attackers leverage exposed management interfaces to gain a foothold.
• TA0006 — Credential Access: Password hashes are exfiltrated for offline cracking and subsequent unauthorized access.

Source: https://thehackernews.com/2026/07/24650-internet-exposed-bmcs-disclose.html