CVE-2019-11941 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-2019-11941 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 platform's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically affecting the way the system processes user credentials and session management. The flaw enables attackers to bypass legitimate authentication procedures and execute arbitrary code on the target system with elevated privileges. Security researchers identified this weakness during routine vulnerability assessments of enterprise network management platforms, highlighting the dangerous implications for organizations relying on HPE IMC for critical infrastructure monitoring and management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the IMC platform's web interface components. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HTTP requests that manipulate authentication parameters, effectively allowing them to gain unauthorized access to the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which categorizes improper authentication issues, and demonstrates how weak session handling can lead to complete system compromise. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires no prior authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may inadvertently expose the platform to external threats. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that IMC systems typically operate in sensitive network environments where they control access to critical infrastructure components.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-11941 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the affected IMC platform. This includes the ability to modify network configurations, access sensitive operational data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. Organizations using affected IMC versions face significant risks to their network security posture, as the platform often serves as a central management point for multiple network devices and security systems. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in widespread network disruption, data breaches, and potential compromise of the entire enterprise network infrastructure. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged for broader attack campaigns.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches for HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 and higher. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the IMC platform from critical network segments, while robust monitoring and logging should be enabled to detect suspicious authentication attempts. Access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication implementation and regular security audits of the platform's configuration. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential compromise of network management platforms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping enterprise management platforms updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring across all network infrastructure components.