CVE-2016-2003 in P9000 Command View
Summary
by MITRE
HPE P9000 Command View Advanced Edition Software (CVAE) 7.x and 8.x before 8.4.0-00 and XP7 CVAE 7.x and 8.x before 8.4.0-00 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted serialized Java object, related to the Apache Commons Collections (ACC) library.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2003 affects HPE P9000 Command View Advanced Edition software versions 7.x and 8.x prior to 8.4.0-00, as well as XP7 CVAE 7.x and 8.x before the same patch level. This critical security flaw resides within the software's handling of serialized Java objects, specifically through the Apache Commons Collections library which has been identified as a common source of deserialization vulnerabilities in enterprise applications. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations utilizing HPE storage management solutions as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure deserialization of Java objects within the CVAE software stack. When the application processes incoming serialized data, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the object structure before attempting to deserialize it. This flaw directly relates to CWE-502 which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a critical weakness in software applications. The Apache Commons Collections library, which is widely used across enterprise applications for data manipulation, has been extensively documented in security literature as a primary vector for remote code execution attacks due to its extensive use of reflection and dynamic object creation capabilities. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable CVAE software, trigger the execution of arbitrary commands on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running affected versions of HPE Command View Advanced Edition face the risk of unauthorized access to their storage infrastructure, data exfiltration, system modification, and potential use as a foothold for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from outside the corporate network, potentially bypassing traditional perimeter security controls. This represents a significant concern for enterprise storage management systems that often contain sensitive data and serve as critical infrastructure components for business operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these systems typically run with elevated privileges and may be accessible from multiple network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2003 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 8.4.0-00 or later releases from HPE. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to affected systems and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious deserialization activities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter indicates that attackers may leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through command execution capabilities. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strict input validation for serialized data, and conducting regular security assessments of Java-based applications. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process must account for the potential impact on existing workflows and ensure that patch deployment does not disrupt critical storage management operations while maintaining compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 for secure system configuration and vulnerability management.