CVE-2012-5201 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Intelligent Management Center (iMC) and Intelligent Management Center for Automated Network Manager (ANM) before 5.2 E0401 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-1611.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5201 represents a critical security flaw within HP Intelligent Management Center (iMC) and its Automated Network Manager (ANM) variant, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.2 E0401. This unspecified vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that enables remote code execution, making it a severe concern for enterprise network management systems. The vulnerability was disclosed through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under the identifier ZDI-CAN-1611, indicating that it was a previously unknown flaw that had not yet been publicly documented in security databases.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in its ability to permit remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring authentication or local access. This characteristic places the vulnerability within the scope of remote code execution (RCE) threats, which are typically classified under CWE-119 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The unspecified nature of the exact vector means that attackers could potentially exploit various entry points within the iMC and ANM software architecture, including but not limited to network protocols, web interfaces, or API endpoints that handle user input or system commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, as it affects the core network management infrastructure that organizations rely upon for monitoring and controlling their network environments. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain full control over the affected iMC or ANM server, potentially allowing them to manipulate network configurations, access sensitive data, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This threat is particularly concerning given that iMC and ANM systems typically operate in privileged network environments where they have access to critical network resources and can influence network-wide operations.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of HP iMC or ANM should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches that address this vulnerability, restricting network access to these systems through firewalls and network segmentation, and conducting thorough security assessments of their network management infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious code and establish persistent access to the compromised systems. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical infrastructure components that serve as central management points for enterprise networks.