CVE-2017-5784 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 CVE-2017-5784 vulnerability represents a critical security weakness in the HPE Matrix Operating Environment version 7.6 where the system fails to implement the HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header mechanism. This deficiency leaves the environment susceptible to various man-in-the-middle attacks and session hijacking attempts that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between clients and the affected system. The vulnerability specifically impacts web-based interfaces and management consoles that rely on HTTP protocols for communication.
HSTS is a security feature that prevents protocol downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking by instructing browsers to only communicate with the server using secure HTTPS connections. When this header is missing from HTTP responses, browsers cannot enforce secure communication, making it possible for attackers to intercept and manipulate traffic. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper security configuration as identified by CWE-693, which deals with protection mechanism failures. This weakness creates an attack surface that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, where attackers can exploit weak transport layer security to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of the HPE Matrix Operating Environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session fixation attacks, capture authentication credentials, or inject malicious content into web sessions. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where administrators access the matrix operating system through web interfaces, as these sessions become vulnerable to eavesdropping and manipulation. The missing security header essentially removes a crucial layer of defense that should automatically enforce encrypted communication channels.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including the configuration of proper HSTS headers with appropriate max-age values to ensure browsers maintain secure connections for extended periods. Security patches provided by HPE should be applied promptly to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and additional monitoring controls can serve as compensating measures while awaiting official patches. The implementation should follow security best practices for HSTS configuration including the inclusion of subdomains and preloading directives where appropriate. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar configuration weaknesses in other system components that may expose similar attack vectors.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper security header implementation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. The absence of HSTS configuration represents a fundamental misconfiguration that can be easily remediated through proper security hardening procedures and adherence to established security frameworks. Organizations should establish baseline security requirements for all web applications and ensure that security headers are consistently implemented across all system components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising operational security.