CVE-2019-11958 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-2019-11958 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the web application's authentication and session management components, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the IMC platform's web interface, which serves as the primary administrative console for network management operations.
The technical flaw manifests through improper sanitization of user-supplied input in the authentication process, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass standard security controls. This weakness enables unauthorized remote code execution with the privileges of the web application server, potentially granting attackers full administrative control over the IMC platform and underlying network infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network management systems are often exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can compromise the entire network management infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to the IMC platform, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network disruption, or lateral movement within the enterprise network. The affected systems typically serve as central points for network monitoring and management, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking long-term access to critical infrastructure. Organizations using vulnerable versions of HPE IMC PLAT face significant risk of unauthorized network access and potential compromise of their entire network management ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, as this resolves the underlying input validation issues that enable the vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the IMC platform to authorized administrative users only, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network scans to identify all instances of the vulnerable software and implement monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts or unusual network behavior. Security controls should align with industry standards including CWE-20 for input validation weaknesses and ATT&CK techniques related to remote code execution and privilege escalation. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure ongoing protection against similar vulnerabilities in network management systems.