CVE-2017-12522 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-2017-12522 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT version 7.3 (E0504) that exposes organizations to significant cybersecurity risks. This remote code execution vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected system without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure management platforms that typically require elevated privileges and are often deployed in enterprise environments. The HPE Intelligent Management Center serves as a comprehensive platform for managing network infrastructure, making this vulnerability especially concerning for organizations that rely on it for critical network operations and monitoring.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the iMC PLAT web application interface, specifically in how the system processes user-supplied data. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-74 category of "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component" and more specifically aligns with CWE-94 which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')." Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets processed by the vulnerable application, ultimately leading to arbitrary code execution on the target system. The vulnerability exists in the web server component that handles various management requests, allowing malicious payloads to be injected and executed within the context of the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure data. Organizations utilizing the affected HPE iMC PLAT version face potential exposure to persistent threats, data exfiltration, and disruption of network management services. The vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges, install backdoors, and establish persistent access to the network management platform, which can then serve as a launching point for further attacks within the enterprise network. This threat vector particularly impacts organizations that use iMC for managing critical network components, as compromise of the management platform can lead to widespread network disruption and unauthorized access to network resources.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including patching to the fixed version HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT v7.3 (E0506) or subsequent releases, as this represents the most effective remediation approach. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell," indicating that exploitation may involve command injection techniques. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, disable unnecessary services, and monitor for suspicious network activity. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing to ensure that the patch has been properly applied and that no residual vulnerabilities remain within the system configuration.