CVE-2017-8961 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A directory traversal vulnerability in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT 7.3 E0504P02 could allow remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The directory traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8961 affects HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT version 7.3 E0504P02, presenting a critical security risk that enables remote code execution through improper input validation. This vulnerability resides within the web application interface of the IMC platform, which serves as a centralized management solution for network infrastructure monitoring and control. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters, particularly those related to file path references, allowing malicious actors to manipulate directory traversal sequences and access restricted system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of file path parameters within the IMC web interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as '../' or similar patterns to navigate beyond the intended directory boundaries. When the application processes these malformed requests without proper sanitization, it permits access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially allows arbitrary code execution on the target system. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the platform's file handling mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for network management systems that require elevated privileges to function properly.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8961 extends far beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network infrastructure. Organizations utilizing HPE IMC platforms face significant risk of unauthorized network monitoring, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network environments. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers need only access to the network to exploit the flaw, eliminating the requirement for physical presence or local network access. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks through compromised management systems.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released for HPE IMC PLAT 7.3 E0504P02 to address the directory traversal vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the IMC platform to untrusted networks, while implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious directory traversal attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network management systems, as this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 directory traversal flaws and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous file access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact can be substantial given the privileged nature of network management systems.