CVE-2017-12554 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability in HPE intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT iMC Plat 7.3 E0504P2 and earlier was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12554 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.3 E0504P2 and earlier installations. This vulnerability resides in the web application component of the iMC platform, which serves as a centralized management solution for network infrastructure monitoring and management. The affected system operates as a comprehensive network management platform that handles various administrative functions including device monitoring, configuration management, and network performance analysis. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's handling of user input within certain web interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web application server.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the iMC web application framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially malformed requests that bypass normal input validation mechanisms, allowing them to inject malicious code that gets executed within the context of the web server process. This vulnerability falls under CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, and specifically relates to CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code. The flaw enables attackers to perform arbitrary code execution without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the iMC platform is exposed to untrusted networks or where default administrative credentials remain unchanged. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require complex attack vectors or specialized tools, as the flaw exists in core web application components that handle routine administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12554 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation grants attackers complete control over the affected iMC platform and potentially the entire network infrastructure it manages. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which describes execution through command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to execute additional malicious commands. The compromised iMC platform could serve as a launchpad for further attacks within the network, enabling lateral movement and privilege escalation across connected systems. Network administrators who rely on iMC for critical infrastructure monitoring face significant risk of complete system compromise, which could result in unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical network services. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where iMC platforms manage large-scale network infrastructures, as a single compromised instance could affect thousands of network devices and users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected organizations, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to iMC platforms, ensuring that these systems are not directly exposed to public internet access. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary web services, implementing strong access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of the iMC platform configuration. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual network activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices in enterprise software development. Organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address remote code execution vulnerabilities in network management platforms. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure system stability and prevent service disruption during the update process.