CVE-2017-12546 in System Management Homepage
Summary
by MITRE
A local buffer overflow vulnerability in HPE System Management Homepage for Windows and Linux version prior to v7.6.1 was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12546 represents a critical local buffer overflow flaw within the HPE System Management Homepage software suite, affecting both Windows and Linux operating systems. This issue resides in the software's handling of user input within its local execution environment, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to v7.6.1, indicating that HPE addressed this weakness through a targeted software update that likely implemented proper input validation and memory boundary checks.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when the HPE System Management Homepage processes unvalidated input from local users, allowing malicious actors to overwrite adjacent memory locations within the application's execution space. This flaw manifests as a classic stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits data to be written beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining administrative access to the compromised system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12546 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a foothold for further system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. Systems running affected versions of HPE System Management Homepage become susceptible to unauthorized access and potential data exfiltration, particularly in enterprise environments where these management tools are commonly deployed for server monitoring and administration. The vulnerability's local nature means that exploitation requires physical access or initial compromise of a system, but once achieved, it can serve as a persistent backdoor for attackers seeking long-term access to critical infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate software patching to version 7.6.1 or later, which incorporates proper input validation and memory management controls to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges, reducing the potential attack surface for exploitation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software and ensure that patches are deployed across all managed systems. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious local activity and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems, ensuring that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing management workflows or automation scripts that depend on the HPE System Management Homepage functionality.