CVE-2017-8990 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability was identified in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) Wireless Service Manager (WSM) Software earlier than version WSM 7.3 (E0506). This issue was resolved in HPE IMC Wireless Services Manager Software IMC WSM 7.3 E0506P01 or subsequent version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8990 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center Wireless Service Manager software, specifically affecting versions prior to WSM 7.3 E0506. This vulnerability resides in the wireless service management component of HPE's comprehensive network management platform, which is designed to oversee and control wireless network infrastructure across enterprise environments. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems remotely, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network resources. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual system compromise as it affects the foundational management infrastructure that oversees wireless network operations, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on centralized wireless network management.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the WSM software's processing mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted malicious requests to the affected system, which then processes these inputs without proper sanitization or validation checks. This allows the attacker to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the running WSM service, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, representing weaknesses in input validation and code execution that enable attackers to manipulate system behavior through external inputs. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially move laterally within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8990 is substantial for organizations utilizing HPE IMC WSM software, as it creates a pathway for attackers to gain complete control over wireless network management functions. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and availability of wireless network services, potentially causing service disruptions while simultaneously providing unauthorized access to sensitive network information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WSM software typically operates with elevated privileges and has access to critical network configuration data, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise networks. Organizations may experience unauthorized data exfiltration, network disruption, and potential compromise of other connected systems that rely on the wireless infrastructure managed by the vulnerable software.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate deployment of the patched software version IMC WSM 7.3 E0506P01 or later releases provided by HPE. Organizations should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all affected systems and implement mandatory software updates across their network management infrastructure. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the WSM components to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for known exploit signatures and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and script interpreter execution, emphasizing the importance of patch management and system hardening measures to prevent exploitation of similar code execution vulnerabilities.