CVE-2016-4394 in System Management Homepage
Summary
by MITRE
HPE System Management Homepage before v7.6 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors, related to an "HSTS" issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4394 affects HPE System Management Homepage versions prior to v7.6 and represents a significant security flaw related to the implementation of HTTP Strict Transport Security mechanisms. This issue exposes systems to potential information disclosure risks through unspecified attack vectors that leverage the HSTS configuration. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in the web application's security posture, particularly in how it handles secure communication channels and protects sensitive data from unauthorized access.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation or configuration of HTTP Strict Transport Security headers within the HPE System Management Homepage interface. HSTS is a security feature that prevents downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking by ensuring that browsers only communicate with the web server over HTTPS connections. When this mechanism is inadequately configured or missing entirely, attackers can potentially intercept sensitive information transmitted between clients and the server. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, including but not limited to man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, or credential theft through insecure HTTP connections that should have been enforced as secure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to system management functions. Organizations relying on HPE System Management Homepage for critical infrastructure monitoring and management face significant risks when this vulnerability exists in their environment. The attack surface becomes considerably larger as remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about system configurations, user credentials, and potentially access administrative functions that control system behavior and security policies.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-319 standard, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of HSTS mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under the T1071.005 technique for application layer protocol: web protocols, where attackers exploit web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. Organizations must implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all web applications properly enforce HTTPS connections. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and implementing proper security controls to prevent attackers from leveraging weak transport layer security implementations.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of HPE System Management Homepage version 7.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the HSTS implementation. Network administrators must verify that proper HSTS headers are configured with appropriate policies including the includeSubDomains directive and preload directives where applicable. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure configuration management and the need for continuous security monitoring to protect against evolving threats targeting system management interfaces.