CVE-2019-5339 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-2019-5339 represents a critical remote code execution flaw discovered 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 HPE IMC platform, which serves as a comprehensive network management solution for monitoring and controlling various network devices. The affected system operates as a centralized management platform that aggregates data from multiple network components including switches, routers, firewalls, and wireless access points, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the web interface, creating a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the IMC web application. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HTTP requests that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly invoke system commands through vulnerable input parameters. The flaw allows for privilege escalation from unauthenticated users to administrative privileges, enabling attackers to execute commands with the highest system permissions. This vulnerability is classified as a CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, specifically manifesting as an issue in the web application's handling of user-supplied data within the authentication flow. The vulnerability is further categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the T1210: Exploitation of Remote Services technique, where adversaries leverage weaknesses in network services to gain unauthorized access. The exploitation process typically involves sending specially crafted payloads through HTTP requests that manipulate the application's internal command execution functions, effectively allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target server.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5339 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected HPE IMC versions. Successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the management center, enabling them to view, modify, or delete sensitive network configuration data, monitor traffic flows, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network infrastructure. The compromised management center can serve as a launching point for lateral movement attacks, allowing adversaries to access other network segments that rely on the IMC platform for configuration management. Organizations may experience significant data breaches, service disruptions, and compliance violations due to the unauthorized access to critical network management functions. The vulnerability also poses risks to network availability as attackers can potentially disable management functions, disrupt network operations, or introduce malicious configurations that compromise network security posture. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through potential configuration modifications, and availability through service disruption or denial of access.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary and most effective mitigation involves upgrading to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which includes patches that resolve the authentication bypass and command execution flaws. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate the IMC management platform from critical network segments, reducing the attack surface and limiting potential lateral movement. Access controls should be strengthened through implementation of network access control lists, firewall rules, and restricted administrative access to the management interface. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect anomalous activities related to the IMC platform, including unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized access attempts. Network traffic monitoring should specifically target HTTP requests to the vulnerable web interface, with alerts configured for suspicious payload patterns. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement intrusion detection systems that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the management center, and multi-factor authentication should be implemented where possible to add additional security layers.