CVE-2017-5815 in Intelligent Management Center PLAT
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.3 E0504P04 was found.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5815 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.3 E0504P04, a widely deployed network management platform used by enterprises for monitoring and managing their IT infrastructure. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of the iMC platform, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw specifically affects the platform's handling of user input within certain administrative functions, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the running service account. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as iMC platforms are commonly used in enterprise environments where they serve as central management points for network devices, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the iMC web application components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTTP requests that contain specially formatted payloads designed to bypass existing security controls. The flaw allows for arbitrary command injection through the platform's administrative interfaces, enabling attackers to execute system commands directly on the affected server. This type of vulnerability maps to CWE-77 and CWE-94 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically representing command injection and code injection vulnerabilities respectively. The attack vector requires no prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected system, potentially allowing for full system compromise and lateral movement within the network environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5815 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access to enterprise networks. Organizations using affected iMC versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access points within the network, allowing attackers to maintain long-term presence and continue reconnaissance activities. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as the compromised system can be used to further infiltrate network resources. The attack could lead to the exfiltration of sensitive network configuration data, disruption of network management services, and potential use as a launchpad for broader network attacks. Organizations may experience service degradation or complete outages if the platform is compromised, as the vulnerability could be used to disable critical management functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5815 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. HPE released patches specifically addressing this vulnerability, and organizations must ensure all instances of iMC PLAT 7.3 E0504P04 are updated to the latest security patches. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks, while firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the iMC administrative interfaces. Monitoring for suspicious network activity and log analysis should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, with particular attention to unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized administrative access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on known exploit patterns associated with this vulnerability. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that administrative accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that access to the iMC platform is strictly controlled through proper authentication mechanisms. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader network infrastructure.