CVE-2017-5805 in Intelligent Management Center PLAT
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.2 was found.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5805 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.2, a widely deployed network management platform used by enterprises for monitoring and managing their IT infrastructure. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administration interface of the iMC platform, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication. The flaw specifically affects the platform's handling of user input within certain web components, allowing malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's web interface, which fails to properly filter malicious payloads submitted through web forms and API endpoints.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests that target specific parameters within the iMC web application. Attackers can leverage this flaw by submitting malicious input through various web interface components including but not limited to file upload functionality, configuration parameter settings, and administrative commands. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 as it involves injection flaws where untrusted data is processed without proper sanitization, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploitation of remote services through injection attacks. The flaw allows for complete system compromise as the executed code runs with elevated privileges, potentially enabling attackers to gain full administrative control over the iMC platform and subsequently access the underlying network infrastructure it manages.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5805 extends beyond the immediate compromise of the iMC platform itself, as it can lead to widespread network disruption and data breaches within organizations that rely on this management system. Network administrators who use iMC for monitoring critical infrastructure components face the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive network data, including configuration details, user credentials, and operational metrics. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can compromise systems from anywhere on the internet, eliminating the need for physical access or insider threat vectors. Organizations may experience service degradation, unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure as attackers leverage the compromised iMC platform as a foothold for further attacks. The impact is particularly severe for enterprises that depend heavily on iMC for network monitoring and management, as the compromise of this system can effectively provide attackers with visibility and control over the entire managed network segment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5805 should include immediate application of HPE's official security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to isolate the iMC platform from critical network segments and apply restrictive firewall rules to limit access to the web administration interface. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web services, implementing robust input validation at network boundaries, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their iMC deployments to identify systems running vulnerable versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The remediation process should also include network monitoring and log analysis to detect any potential exploitation attempts, as well as implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and privilege separation to limit the impact if exploitation does occur, ensuring that the web server process operates with minimal necessary privileges.