CVE-2017-5782 in Matrix Operating Environment
Summary
by MITRE
A missing HSTS Header vulnerability in HPE Matrix Operating Environment version v7.6 was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5782 represents a critical security weakness in the HPE Matrix Operating Environment version 7.6, specifically related to the absence of a crucial HTTP Strict Transport Security header implementation. This missing security mechanism leaves the system susceptible to various man-in-the-middle attacks and session hijacking attempts that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of communications between clients and the affected server infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of the Strict-Transport-Security header in HTTP responses generated by the HPE Matrix Operating Environment. This header serves as a security directive that instructs web browsers to only interact with the server using secure HTTPS connections, thereby preventing downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking attempts. Without this header, attackers can exploit the lack of enforced encryption by intercepting communications, particularly during the initial HTTP connection phase where the browser may be tricked into communicating over unencrypted channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a pathway for sophisticated attack vectors that align with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for Phishing and T1071 for Application Layer Protocol usage. The absence of HSTS creates a window of opportunity for attackers to perform session fixation attacks, steal authentication cookies, and potentially escalate privileges within the matrix environment. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on HPE Matrix for critical infrastructure management, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of secure communication channels.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-311, which specifically addresses the absence of sensitive data protection mechanisms in web applications. The lack of HSTS implementation represents a failure in the application's security configuration, as it does not enforce the use of encrypted connections even when such connections are available. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the addition of the Strict-Transport-Security header with appropriate parameters such as max-age values of at least 31536000 seconds, and ensure that the header is consistently applied across all responses from the matrix operating environment.
The remediation process requires administrators to configure the web server or application framework to include the HSTS header in all HTTP responses, with careful consideration of the preload directive if the organization intends to participate in browser preload lists. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of comprehensive security hardening practices and highlights the necessity of regular security assessments to identify missing security controls that could be exploited by threat actors. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect and alert on missing security headers as part of their continuous security posture management efforts.