CVE-2019-5353 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 identified as CVE-2019-5353 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This weakness resides in the platform's handling of user-supplied input within specific administrative functions, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of input parameters that are processed by the IMC platform's web-based management interface, which serves as the primary administrative portal for network management operations. The flaw affects organizations relying on HPE IMC for centralized network monitoring and management, potentially exposing their entire network infrastructure to unauthorized access and control.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input fields within the IMC platform's administrative web interface, specifically targeting components that process user-provided data without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through these vulnerable parameters, trigger code execution on the target system with the privileges of the web application process. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-74, representing a weakness in input validation where data is not properly sanitized before being processed by the application. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication for exploitation, making it accessible to remote attackers who can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059, which encompasses execution through command and scripting interpreters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations utilizing affected IMC versions face significant risk of data breaches, system hijacking, and disruption of network management operations. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of network management data, as attackers can manipulate configuration settings, access sensitive network information, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the environment. Network administrators who rely on IMC for monitoring and managing their infrastructure may experience complete loss of control over their network management functions, as the attacker gains the ability to execute commands and modify system behavior directly through the compromised interface. The implications are particularly severe for enterprises that depend on centralized network management solutions, as this vulnerability can result in widespread operational disruption and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5353 primarily involve immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for HPE IMC PLAT software. Organizations should upgrade to version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the IMC platform to untrusted networks, while disabling unnecessary administrative services and ports can reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized configuration changes. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems within their network infrastructure that may be running vulnerable versions of the IMC platform, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar threats that may exist in related components or dependencies.