CVE-2017-7420 in Enterprise Developer
Summary
by MITRE
An Authentication Bypass (CWE-287) vulnerability in ESMAC (aka Enterprise Server Monitor and Control) in Micro Focus Enterprise Developer and Enterprise Server 2.3 and earlier, 2.3 Update 1 before Hotfix 8, and 2.3 Update 2 before Hotfix 9 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to view and alter configuration information and alter the state of the running product (CWE-275).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2019
The CVE-2017-7420 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Micro Focus Enterprise Server Monitor and Control (ESMAC) software, which operates as a management interface for enterprise server environments. This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of the Enterprise Developer and Enterprise Server products, specifically affecting versions 2.3 and earlier, as well as certain update releases before their respective hotfixes were applied. The flaw fundamentally undermines the security model of the system by allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational controls and configuration data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the ESMAC component, which fails to properly validate user credentials before granting access to administrative functions. This authentication bypass allows attackers to directly interact with the system's management interfaces without requiring valid credentials, effectively providing them with the same privileges as authenticated administrators. The vulnerability manifests through network-based attacks that exploit weaknesses in the authentication flow, enabling remote exploitation from any location without the need for physical access or prior knowledge of legitimate credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate critical system configurations and alter the operational state of running enterprise servers. This includes the ability to modify system parameters, change security settings, and potentially disrupt business operations through unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) combined with CWE-275 (Poor Access Control) demonstrates the dual nature of the flaw, affecting both the authentication mechanism and the subsequent access control enforcement. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to enterprise server environments, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruptions, or further lateral movement within network infrastructures.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant operational risks including unauthorized data access, configuration tampering, and potential system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed management interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product versions and update releases indicates a systemic issue within the authentication implementation that required targeted hotfixes to resolve. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can bypass traditional authentication controls to gain administrative capabilities. The security implications extend to compliance requirements, as this vulnerability could result in violations of data protection regulations and enterprise security policies that mandate proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for critical infrastructure components. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant hotfixes, restricting network access to management interfaces, and implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to their enterprise server management systems.