CVE-2017-12509 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12509 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT version 7.3 (E0504) that poses significant operational risks to enterprise network management systems. This vulnerability exists within the iMC platform's handling of user input and authentication processes, specifically affecting the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor network infrastructure. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network management data.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the iMC platform's authentication and session management components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending maliciously crafted requests to the affected web interface, which then processes these inputs without adequate security checks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security design. The flaw specifically affects how the system handles certain parameters in authentication requests, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed with the privileges of the web application process.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12509 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected iMC platform. This control enables threat actors to manipulate network configurations, steal sensitive information, conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Organizations relying on HPE iMC for network management face severe risks including disruption of critical network services, data breaches, and potential compliance violations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers do not require physical access to the network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed network management systems.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through the deployment of HPE's official patch release version 7.3 (E0506) or subsequent updates. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, implementation of network segmentation to limit the attack surface, and regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in the network management infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, network access controls, and enhanced monitoring of authentication-related activities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches for enterprise management systems and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to remote code execution and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures.