CVE-2017-5811 in Network Automation
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability in HPE Network Automation version 9.1x, 9.2x, 10.0x, 10.1x and 10.2x were found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5811 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Network Automation software across multiple version lines including 9.1x, 9.2x, 10.0x, 10.1x, and 10.2x. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the network automation platform, which allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring authentication. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of HPE Network Automation, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors to gain complete control over network infrastructure management systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the application's web interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly invoke system commands through vulnerable input fields. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through HTTP requests that manipulate parameters used for system configuration and network management operations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-77 and CWE-94 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing command injection and code injection vulnerabilities respectively. These classifications indicate that the flaw allows for arbitrary code execution through manipulation of input parameters that are subsequently processed without adequate validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5811 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and network infrastructure manipulation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially escalating to system administrator level access. This compromise enables malicious actors to modify network configurations, access sensitive network data, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, and establish persistent access points within the network environment. The vulnerability affects enterprise network management systems that rely on HPE Network Automation for infrastructure control, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network administrators delegate critical management functions through automated platforms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) techniques, as exploitation requires command execution capabilities and potentially legitimate account access for initial compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate the affected systems, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests, and implementation of strict access controls for the web management interface. The most effective immediate remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for HPE Network Automation versions 9.1x, 9.2x, 10.0x, 10.1x, and 10.2x. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement network access controls to limit access to the affected management interfaces to trusted networks only. Security teams should also perform thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential backdoors or persistence mechanisms that may have been established through exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include verification of patch installation and validation of system integrity to ensure complete elimination of the vulnerability from the network infrastructure.