CVE-2017-12519 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-2017-12519 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.3 E0504. This enterprise-grade network management platform serves as a comprehensive solution for monitoring and managing HPE networking equipment, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise network infrastructure. The vulnerability resides within the platform's handling of specific input parameters that are processed by the application's backend services, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized remote execution of arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the iMC PLAT application. When processing certain network management requests or configuration inputs, the system fails to properly validate user-supplied data before executing operations. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that bypass normal security controls and inject executable code directly into the application's runtime environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 as a 'Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component' and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' and T1190 for 'Exploit Public-Facing Application', demonstrating how attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to network management systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted for organizations relying on HPE iMC for network management. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the iMC platform, enabling them to manipulate network configurations, monitor traffic, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network perimeter. Given that iMC serves as a central management point for HPE networking equipment, attackers could compromise entire network infrastructures through this single vulnerability. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access or network credentials to initiate attacks, making the platform particularly vulnerable to widespread exploitation. Organizations may face significant operational disruption, data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations when such a vulnerability is exploited in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12519 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to HPE iMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506 or subsequent releases that contain the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement network segmentation to isolate iMC platforms from critical network segments and apply firewall rules to restrict access to the platform's management interfaces. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, conducting regular vulnerability assessments of network management systems, and maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized code execution on systems running iMC platforms, while ensuring that all administrative access to the platform requires multi-factor authentication and follows the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for enterprise network management platforms.