CVE-2016-4369 in Discovery
Summary
by MITRE
HPE Discovery and Dependency Mapping Inventory (DDMi) 9.30, 9.31, 9.32, 9.32 update 1, 9.32 update 2, and 9.32 update 3 allows remote authenticated users 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 • 01/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4369 represents a critical remote command execution flaw affecting HPE Discovery and Dependency Mapping Inventory versions 9.30 through 9.32 update 3. This security weakness stems from the improper handling of serialized Java objects within the application's processing pipeline, specifically leveraging the Apache Commons Collections library. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that enables authenticated remote adversaries to inject malicious serialized objects into the system, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution on the target server.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on the deserialization process of Java objects within the DDMi application, where the Apache Commons Collections library fails to properly validate incoming serialized data. This flaw creates a pathway for attackers to construct malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable application, trigger the execution of arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service account. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 as Deserialization of Untrusted Data, which represents a well-known attack pattern where applications deserialize data without proper validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute code during the deserialization process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing HPE DDMi, as it allows remote authenticated attackers to gain full control over the affected systems. The attack requires only authentication credentials, which can often be obtained through various means including credential theft, phishing attacks, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Once exploited, the attacker can execute commands on the target system, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, lateral movement within the network, or complete system takeover. The impact extends beyond immediate command execution to include potential privilege escalation and persistent access to the enterprise environment.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves updating the affected HPE DDMi versions to patched releases that address the deserialization flaw in the Apache Commons Collections library. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of the DDMi service to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual deserialization activities and implementing application whitelisting policies can provide additional protection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting Java-based applications and demonstrating how deserialization vulnerabilities can be leveraged for remote code execution. The attack pattern also relates to T1566 for Phishing and T1110 for Brute Force, as attackers often need to obtain valid credentials before exploiting this vulnerability. Organizations should also review their application security practices and ensure proper input validation, object deserialization restrictions, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future application development cycles.