CVE-2017-8957 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 • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8957 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 stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web application framework that processes user-supplied data through the web interface. The flaw specifically affects the platform's handling of certain HTTP parameters that are processed without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability impacts organizations relying on HPE iMC for network management operations, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure under the platform's control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are processed by the iMC application server. Attackers can craft malicious requests containing specially formatted payloads that bypass the application's input validation controls, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application user. This typically involves injecting malicious code into parameters that are subsequently processed by the server-side application logic. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw, which aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing weaknesses in input validation that enable arbitrary code execution. The attack vector requires network access to the affected system and can be executed without authentication, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows for immediate exploitation of the target environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8957 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the affected iMC platform and potentially the entire network infrastructure it manages. Organizations may experience data breaches, network disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive network information. The vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent access points, escalate privileges, and conduct further attacks within the network environment. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications, privilege escalation, and initial access through unauthenticated network services. The affected environment may include critical network devices, servers, and infrastructure components that are managed through the iMC platform, making the potential impact substantial for enterprise network security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8957 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, restrict network exposure through firewalls, and disable unnecessary services. The implementation of web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the broader network infrastructure. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or command execution attempts that may indicate exploitation activity. Security teams should also review and strengthen input validation mechanisms across all web applications and ensure proper access controls are implemented to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure system stability and prevent operational disruptions.