CVE-2017-17677 in Remedy
Summary
by MITRE • 05/19/2021
BMC Remedy 9.1SP3 is affected by authenticated code execution. Authenticated users that have the right to create reports can use BIRT templates to run code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17677 affects BMC Remedy 9.1SP3 and represents a critical authenticated code execution flaw that can be exploited by users with report creation privileges. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure deserialization and arbitrary code execution, which are commonly exploited in enterprise software platforms where report generation capabilities are provided to end users. The issue stems from the BIRT (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools) template processing functionality within the BMC Remedy platform, which allows authenticated users to upload and execute malicious code through report templates. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate platform features to achieve unauthorized code execution, making detection and prevention more challenging for security teams.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the processing of BIRT templates which are typically used for generating reports within the BMC Remedy environment. When authenticated users create or modify reports using BIRT templates, the system processes these templates without adequate sanitization of user-supplied input. This allows malicious actors to embed executable code within template files that will be executed when the report is generated or rendered. The flaw essentially creates a sandbox escape condition where the report generation engine becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution, bypassing normal access controls and security boundaries that should protect the underlying system. This type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-502 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses insecure deserialization and the execution of untrusted data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17677 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain full system control, escalate privileges, and access sensitive data within the BMC Remedy environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability could enable attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the application process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability requires only authentication, meaning that any user with report creation rights could potentially exploit it. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have elevated privileges or where privilege escalation is possible through other means. The vulnerability can be leveraged for persistent access, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network, as the compromised system could serve as a foothold for broader attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17677 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution is to apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the BIRT template processing vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict template validation and sanitization procedures, ensuring that all user-supplied templates are thoroughly inspected for malicious content before processing. Access control measures should be enhanced to limit report creation privileges to only essential personnel, following the principle of least privilege. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual report generation activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it leverages authenticated accounts to execute code. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the platform.