CVE-2019-5356 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-2019-5356 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 IMC platform, which serves as a comprehensive network management solution for enterprise environments. The affected system operates as a centralized management hub for HPE networking equipment, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise network infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts the platform's handling of user-supplied input within its web interface components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web application.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the IMC PLAT web application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass the application's security controls and are subsequently processed by the backend systems. This vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which categorizes improper input validation as a fundamental security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious code through various input vectors. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute commands on the target system without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in network management contexts where such systems often possess elevated privileges and access to critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests that trigger the insecure code execution path.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5356 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected IMC platform and potentially the entire network infrastructure it manages. Organizations utilizing vulnerable IMC versions face significant risks including data breaches, network disruption, lateral movement within their infrastructure, and potential compromise of other connected systems. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that IMC systems often operate with administrative privileges and maintain access to critical network devices, making successful exploitation equivalent to gaining control over the entire enterprise network management domain. This threat vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands and establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5356 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contain patches addressing the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate IMC systems from critical network infrastructure and apply firewall rules to restrict access to the web interface to trusted IP addresses only. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential compromise and ensure that all network management systems are properly updated and patched according to vendor advisories. The remediation process should include verification that the patch has been successfully applied and that no unauthorized modifications have occurred within the system.