CVE-2019-5345 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-2019-5345 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT software, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue resides within the platform's handling of user-supplied input, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of input parameters within the web application layer, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that bypass normal security controls. Organizations relying on HPE IMC for network management and monitoring face significant risk as this flaw could enable full system compromise without requiring authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper sanitization of input data within the application's processing pipeline, creating a classic command injection scenario. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through web interfaces or API endpoints that handle user input. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged through HTTP requests that manipulate internal system processes, potentially allowing execution of system commands with elevated privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, which are commonly exploited in enterprise network management systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5345 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to network infrastructure management systems. Compromised IMC platforms provide attackers with visibility into network topology, device configurations, and management credentials, potentially leading to broader network infiltration. The vulnerability affects organizations using HPE IMC for centralized network monitoring, which often serves as a critical control point for enterprise networks. Attackers exploiting this flaw could manipulate network policies, redirect traffic, or establish backdoors for continued access. This represents a significant threat to network security posture, particularly in environments where IMC serves as the primary management interface for critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5345 require immediate implementation of HPE's official security patches and updates, specifically targeting version 7.3 E0506P09 or later. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to IMC systems and restrict external exposure through firewalls and access controls. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, with particular attention to unusual HTTP requests or command execution patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network management infrastructure and implement multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and script injection, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and application security controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic analysis solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.