CVE-2016-1985 in Operations Manager
Summary
by MITRE
HPE Operations Manager 8.x and 9.0 on Windows allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object, related to the Apache Commons Collections library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1985 affects HPE Operations Manager versions 8.x and 9.0 running on Windows platforms, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that leverages the Apache Commons Collections library. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Java serialization mechanism, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The flaw specifically targets the deserialization process where untrusted data is converted back into Java objects, allowing attackers to craft malicious serialized objects that trigger unintended behavior during object reconstruction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern within the Java ecosystem where the Apache Commons Collections library contains a class called InvokerTransformer that can be exploited through the reflection mechanism. When the vulnerable application processes a serialized object containing malicious payload, the deserialization process triggers the InvokerTransformer to execute arbitrary methods through reflection, effectively allowing remote code execution. This particular exploit chain is classified under CWE-502 as Deserialization of Untrusted Data, which is a common vector for remote code execution in Java applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the application is exposed to untrusted input sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1985 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation provides attackers with full control over the affected HPE Operations Manager instances. This includes the ability to access, modify, or delete sensitive data, install malware, create new user accounts, and establish persistence mechanisms within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HPE Operations Manager for system monitoring and management, potentially compromising critical infrastructure monitoring capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to network resources, escalate privileges within the monitored systems, and use the compromised instance as a pivot point for further attacks against other network segments. The attack surface is particularly concerning because HPE Operations Manager is often deployed in enterprise environments where it has elevated privileges and access to sensitive network information.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-1985 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, restricting network access to affected systems, and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The recommended approach involves updating to the latest versions of HPE Operations Manager that contain fixes for the Apache Commons Collections vulnerability, as well as implementing input validation controls and disabling unnecessary serialization functionality where possible. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and network monitoring solutions. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications within their environment that may be using vulnerable versions of the Apache Commons Collections library, as similar exploitation patterns could exist in other software components.