CVE-2018-7103 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Code Execution vulnerability was identified in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) Wireless Services Manager Software earlier than version IMC WSM 7.3 E0506P02.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-7103 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center Wireless Services Manager software, specifically affecting versions prior to IMC WSM 7.3 E0506P02. This vulnerability resides within the wireless services management functionality of the HPE iMC platform, which serves as a comprehensive network management solution for enterprise wireless infrastructure. The affected software operates as a centralized management system for wireless networks, handling configuration management, monitoring, and administrative tasks for wireless access points and controllers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web-based management interface, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of wireless network management operations, potentially allowing attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied input within the wireless services manager component. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and are subsequently processed by the vulnerable software components. The flaw typically manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize or validate data inputs received through web requests, allowing specially crafted parameters to be interpreted as executable commands. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively. The attack vector primarily utilizes HTTP requests targeting specific endpoints within the iMC WSM interface, where the software processes user inputs without adequate validation or sanitization. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker with network access to the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7103 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of enterprise wireless networks managed through HPE iMC. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install backdoors, modify wireless configurations, steal sensitive network credentials, and establish persistent access to the corporate network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HPE iMC for wireless infrastructure management, potentially exposing critical network assets to unauthorized access and control. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform lateral movement within the network, escalate privileges, and access sensitive data stored within or accessible through the compromised system. The impact is particularly severe for organizations with large wireless deployments, as a single compromised iMC instance can provide attackers with control over thousands of wireless access points and associated network devices. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish command and control channels, conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, and disrupt wireless network operations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for IMC WSM version 7.3 E0506P02 or later, which address the input validation flaws that enable this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the affected systems to untrusted networks, while implementing network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software within their environment and ensure proper network access controls are in place. The mitigation strategy should include regular security updates and patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Organizations should also implement intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this specific vulnerability and maintain detailed audit logs of system access and configuration changes. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable web interface components, as this vulnerability can be effectively mitigated through proper input validation and access control measures. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, highlighting the potential for privilege escalation and persistent access through exploitation of this remote code execution flaw.