CVE-2017-12552 in System Management Homepage
Summary
by MITRE
A local arbitrary execution of commands 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-2017-12552 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within HPE System Management Homepage software across both Windows and Linux platforms. This issue affects versions prior to v7.6.1 and allows authenticated local users to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling within the system management interface, creating an attack surface where malicious users can manipulate the software to perform unauthorized operations. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization, enabling command injection attacks that can be leveraged by attackers who already possess local access credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of command-line arguments and system calls within the HPE System Management Homepage components. When legitimate users interact with the management interface, the software fails to properly validate or escape input parameters that are subsequently passed to underlying system commands. This creates a classic command injection scenario where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted and executed as system commands. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the local system level, meaning that an attacker who has already gained user-level access can escalate their privileges to system-level execution. This behavior aligns with CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for input validation and privilege separation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12552 extends beyond simple command execution capabilities, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise entire system infrastructures through lateral movement and privilege escalation. Once a local user gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands, they can modify system files, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where HPE System Management Homepage is deployed for server management and monitoring purposes, making it particularly dangerous in data center and enterprise computing environments. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential system compromise, especially when local accounts are not properly secured or when users have unnecessary administrative privileges. The attack vector requires only local access and authentication, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12552 primarily focus on immediate software updates and access control measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to HPE System Management Homepage version 7.6.1 or later, which contains patches addressing the command injection vulnerability. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and privilege separation within the system environment can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security administrators should enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring that local user accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that administrative access is tightly controlled. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in other system management tools and applications. The incident highlights the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring across all system management interfaces to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attacks.