CVE-2017-12495 in iMC PLAT
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version PLAT 7.3 (E0504) was found. The problem was resolved in HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT v7.3 (E0506) or any subsequent version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-12495 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT version 7.3 E0504, which constitutes a significant security risk for organizations relying on this network management platform. This vulnerability resides within the iMC platform's handling of specific input parameters, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring authentication. The flaw specifically impacts the platform's processing of user-supplied data in certain web service endpoints, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized access to the underlying system infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an attacker can manipulate input data to cause the application to read memory locations outside of intended boundaries. This particular flaw operates through improper validation of input parameters within the iMC platform's web services, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that are subsequently executed by the application server. The vulnerability exists in the platform's authentication and authorization mechanisms, where insufficient input sanitization allows attackers to manipulate request parameters to achieve elevated privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer, requiring no prior authentication credentials and potentially enabling full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected iMC platforms and the networks they manage. Organizations utilizing HPE iMC PLAT 7.3 E0504 face significant risks including unauthorized access to network configuration data, potential lateral movement within network infrastructure, and the ability to manipulate network management functions. The vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, modify network policies, or disrupt critical network operations that rely on the iMC platform for monitoring and management. Given that iMC systems typically serve as central management points for enterprise networks, exploitation of this vulnerability could result in widespread network compromise affecting multiple network segments and devices under management.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under techniques related to command and control operations and privilege escalation. The vulnerability maps directly to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) tactics, as attackers can leverage the RCE capability to execute malicious commands and subsequently escalate privileges within the compromised environment. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor patch released in HPE iMC PLAT v7.3 E0506 or later versions, which addresses the input validation issues that enable this attack vector. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of iMC platform communications should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network management systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping network management platforms updated and the potential consequences of running outdated software versions in enterprise environments.