CVE-2019-11952 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-2019-11952 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center IMC PLAT versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the web interface of the management platform, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability affects HPE's comprehensive network management solution that provides centralized monitoring, configuration, and administration capabilities for enterprise networks. Organizations relying on this platform for critical infrastructure management face significant risk exposure, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper sanitization of user-supplied input in the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious requests that bypass authentication checks and directly invoke system commands through vulnerable input fields. This flaw falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-74, which covers injection flaws. The vulnerability exists in the platform's web server component where user data is processed without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute with the privileges of the web server process. The attack vector requires no authentication for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote threat actors without prior access credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-11952 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations utilizing affected IMC versions face risks including data exfiltration, network disruption, and unauthorized access to sensitive network configurations. The vulnerability's presence in a centralized management platform means that compromise of a single system could provide attackers with visibility into entire network infrastructures managed by the platform. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and script injection, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts usage, as attackers could leverage the compromised system to establish persistent access and move laterally through network segments. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where IMC serves as a critical operational hub for network management and monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-11952 require immediate action to upgrade to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains the necessary patches addressing the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the affected systems and restrict access to the IMC platform through firewalls and access control lists. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates comprehensive network security controls including intrusion detection systems, web application firewalls, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that may be running vulnerable versions of the software, ensuring that all network management infrastructure components are properly updated and secured against similar threats.