CVE-2017-5797 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Unauthenticated Disclosure of Information vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) SOM version v7.3 (E0501) was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5797 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) SOM version v7.3 (E0501) that allows remote attackers to access sensitive system information without requiring authentication. This vulnerability specifically affects the HPE IMC platform, which is widely used for network management and monitoring across enterprise environments, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this management solution. The flaw exists within the software's handling of certain API endpoints and configuration data that should normally be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper input validation within the IMC SOM component. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted requests to specific network ports and endpoints that are exposed to unauthenticated users. The vulnerability allows for the retrieval of system configuration details, user account information, network topology data, and potentially other sensitive operational parameters that should remain protected within a properly secured management environment. This type of information disclosure can provide attackers with comprehensive insights into the target network infrastructure and management systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5797 extends beyond simple data exposure, as the leaked information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains knowledge about system architecture, user permissions, network mappings, and potentially credentials or configuration files that can be leveraged for further compromise. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or valid credentials, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the IMC management interface is exposed to external networks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1082 (System Information Discovery) and T1069 (Permission Groups Discovery) when exploited in a broader attack scenario.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to the IMC management interfaces, applying the vendor-provided security patches, and configuring proper firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted networks only. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and input validation in enterprise management systems. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their IMC configurations and monitor for any suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the need for regular security assessments and prompt patch management across all network management tools and platforms. The flaw underscores the necessity of following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and the defense-in-depth strategy to protect critical infrastructure management systems from unauthorized access and information disclosure attacks.