CVE-2017-5791 in Intelligent Management Center PLAT
Summary
by MITRE
The doFilter method in UrlAccessController in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT 7.2 E0403P06 allows remote bypass of authentication via unspecified strings in a URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5791 resides within the HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT 7.2 E0403P06 platform, specifically within the UrlAccessController component's doFilter method. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to circumvent the system's access controls without proper credentials. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes certain URI strings that contain unspecified characters or sequences, allowing unauthorized users to gain access to restricted administrative functions and resources. The affected system operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness categorized under CWE-287, which deals with improper authentication mechanisms and authentication bypass scenarios. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables unauthorized access through manipulation of URI parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of Uniform Resource Identifier strings that are processed by the UrlAccessController's doFilter method. When the system encounters specific sequences within the URI, the filtering mechanism fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, resulting in the authentication check being bypassed entirely. The unspecified strings mentioned in the vulnerability description likely refer to encoded characters, special sequences, or malformed URI components that the system does not properly handle during the access control validation process. This flaw essentially creates a backdoor path through the authentication layer, allowing attackers to traverse the system's access control mechanisms without proper authorization. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the filter level, meaning it can affect multiple application components and resources that rely on the centralized access control mechanism.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-5791 are severe and far-reaching within enterprise network management environments that utilize HPE iMC platforms. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to critical network management functions, including but not limited to configuration management, user account administration, device monitoring, and system diagnostics. The compromised system may provide access to sensitive network infrastructure data, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on centralized network management solutions, as the compromise of iMC platforms can lead to widespread network visibility and control issues. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates remotely over network protocols, requiring no physical access to the system and potentially allowing for large-scale exploitation across multiple targets within a network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5791 should focus on immediate patch application from HPE, which would address the core flaw in the UrlAccessController's input validation and filtering mechanisms. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to iMC platforms and reduce the attack surface, particularly by restricting direct network access to these management systems. Input validation and sanitization measures should be enhanced to properly handle all URI components and encoded characters, ensuring that malformed or unexpected sequences are properly rejected rather than processed through the authentication bypass path. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual access patterns and potential exploitation attempts, with particular attention to URI sequences that might trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other components within their network management infrastructure that may be susceptible to similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits to prevent future incidents. The mitigation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and follow the ATT&CK framework's recommendations for defending against authentication bypass techniques.