CVE-2019-5354 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-2019-5354 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the IMC platform's web interface, specifically affecting the way the system processes user-supplied parameters during authentication and session management operations. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic command injection attack vector where malicious input is not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying web application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted requests that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly manipulate system commands through the vulnerable web interface. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to adequately validate or escape user-supplied data passed to system execution functions, creating an environment where attacker-controlled commands can be executed within the context of the web server. This issue aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and improper validation of dangerous commands respectively, which are fundamental security weaknesses that enable remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5354 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised IMC systems can serve as a gateway for attackers to infiltrate entire enterprise networks. Since IMC platforms typically manage critical network infrastructure components including switches, routers, and security devices, successful exploitation can provide attackers with visibility into network topology, access to network management credentials, and the ability to manipulate network configurations. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HPE IMC for network monitoring and management, potentially exposing sensitive corporate data and network resources to unauthorized access. This threat is particularly concerning given that IMC systems often operate in privileged network segments and maintain administrative access to critical infrastructure components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 and later, as well as implementing network segmentation controls to limit access to the affected systems. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests, implementing strict access controls for IMC web interfaces, and conducting thorough network monitoring for anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures specific to this vulnerability and establishing incident response procedures for potential exploitation events. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning across all network management systems and verification that patched versions are properly deployed and operational. Organizations without immediate patching capabilities should consider temporary network isolation of affected systems and implementation of additional authentication controls to reduce the attack surface.