CVE-2019-5352 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 • 06/20/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-5352 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center IMC PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This vulnerability exposes organizations to significant operational risks as it allows unauthorized remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without authentication. The flaw exists within the web-based management interface of the IMC platform, which serves as a central hub for network management and monitoring activities across enterprise environments. Organizations relying on this platform for critical infrastructure management face potential compromise of their entire network monitoring ecosystem.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the IMC platform's web application layer. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTTP requests that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly invoke system commands through vulnerable parameters. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation in software applications. The flaw enables attackers to gain elevated privileges and execute commands with the same privileges as the web application service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core management platform that organizations use to monitor and control their network infrastructure, making it a prime target for sophisticated attack campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5352 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with persistent remote control over affected systems. Once exploited, attackers can establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive network configuration data, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network perimeter. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which describes command and script interpretation, and T1078, which covers valid accounts for unauthorized access. Organizations may experience complete loss of network management capabilities, making it difficult to monitor or respond to security incidents effectively. The vulnerability also poses significant risk to compliance frameworks such as pci dss and iso 27001, as it creates unauthorized access points that could result in data breaches and regulatory violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5352 require immediate action from affected organizations, including mandatory software updates to version 7.3 E0506P09 or later. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the IMC platform to authorized personnel only, while firewall rules should restrict external access to the affected web interfaces. Organizations should also deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication and privilege separation measures can help reduce the impact if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated software in non-production environments before deployment to ensure operational continuity and prevent service disruptions.