CVE-2017-8955 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) PLAT version 7.2 was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8955 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center platform version 7.2, a widely deployed network management solution used by enterprises for monitoring and managing complex IT infrastructures. This vulnerability resides within the web-based administration interface of the iMC platform, specifically affecting the handling of user-supplied input in certain web service endpoints. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network management data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the iMC platform's web services implementation, creating a path for malicious input to be processed without adequate sanitization or validation measures. Attackers can craft specially formatted requests that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly invoke system commands through vulnerable input parameters. This issue manifests as a classic command injection vulnerability, where user-controllable data is improperly integrated into system command execution contexts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively, which are fundamental weaknesses in application security architecture. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as it enables initial access and potential privilege escalation within the targeted environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8955 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as the iMC platform serves as a central management point for network infrastructure, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the management platform, allowing attackers to view, modify, or delete network configuration data, monitor network traffic, and potentially escalate privileges to gain administrative access across the entire managed network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HPE iMC for network management, particularly those with exposed web interfaces or insufficient network segmentation controls. Organizations may face significant operational disruption, data breaches, and compliance violations, especially in regulated environments where network management systems contain sensitive operational data. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that iMC platforms are often deployed in critical network environments where the compromise of management systems can lead to widespread service disruption and security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8955 should prioritize immediate patch application from HPE, as the vendor released security updates specifically addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the iMC platform's web interfaces, restrict access through firewall rules, and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary web services, implementing robust input validation controls, and conducting regular security assessments of network management systems. Security teams should establish monitoring procedures for suspicious command execution patterns and maintain incident response plans specifically addressing management system compromises. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for critical infrastructure management systems, as the compromise of such platforms can have cascading effects throughout enterprise network operations and security posture.