CVE-2018-7121 in Intelligent Management Center PLAT
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability was identified in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT earlier than version 7.3 E0506P09.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-7121 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of the IMC platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise network management environments for monitoring and controlling network infrastructure. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system remotely, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network resources.
Technical analysis reveals that the vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the web application's file upload functionality. Specifically, the system fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data when processing file uploads, creating a path traversal and code execution vector. Attackers can exploit this weakness by uploading malicious files that bypass security checks and are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web application server. This flaw aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-74 Injection flaws, both of which are commonly exploited in web application attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the IMC management interface is accessible from untrusted networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7121 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to network management systems that often contain sensitive configuration data, credentials, and operational information. Network administrators rely on IMC platforms to monitor critical infrastructure components including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points. Compromise of these systems can lead to complete network infiltration, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical business operations. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed enterprise network management systems creates a substantial risk profile that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries establish persistent access through remote code execution capabilities.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to remediate this vulnerability, as the attack surface includes organizations with extensive network infrastructure management requirements. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web applications, particularly those managing critical infrastructure. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks, while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of file upload activities and system access logs. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other network management and monitoring systems that may present similar attack vectors.