CVE-2017-12514 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 identified as CVE-2017-12514 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT version 7.3 E0504. This enterprise-grade network management platform serves as a comprehensive solution for monitoring and managing HPE networking infrastructure across large-scale deployments. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the iMC platform, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and improper access controls that allow malicious actors to bypass authentication protocols and gain elevated privileges within the system environment.
This vulnerability operates through a combination of weak session management and insufficient parameter validation within the web application framework of iMC PLAT. The technical implementation flaw allows attackers to manipulate authentication tokens and session identifiers, effectively enabling them to impersonate legitimate users without proper credentials. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and specifically relates to CWE-79 which covers cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the iMC service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12514 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors within enterprise network management systems. This creates significant risk for organizations relying on iMC for critical infrastructure monitoring, as compromised systems can serve as launching points for lateral movement throughout the network. The vulnerability affects organizations with HPE iMC PLAT installations running version 7.3 E0504, potentially exposing thousands of network management systems worldwide to unauthorized access. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to execute commands and maintain persistence.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to HPE iMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506 or later releases, which contain the necessary patches to address the authentication bypass mechanism. Network segmentation and firewall rule enforcement should be implemented to limit access to iMC management interfaces, particularly restricting access to only trusted administrative networks. Regular security assessments and monitoring of authentication logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust network access controls for enterprise management systems. Organizations without immediate upgrade capabilities should consider implementing additional security controls such as VPN access restrictions, multi-factor authentication, and enhanced logging to detect unauthorized access attempts.