CVE-2019-5361 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-2019-5361 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This vulnerability resides within the platform's handling of specific input parameters that are processed through the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system without requiring authentication. The flaw specifically affects the IMC platform's web server component, which processes user-supplied data through unsanitized input validation mechanisms.
This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the IMC platform's web application layer, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass security controls. The technical implementation involves a failure to properly filter and validate user input before processing, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted requests. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of a command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled data can be executed as system commands. The flaw exists in the platform's web server component that handles administrative functions, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5361 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to gain complete control over affected HPE IMC systems. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated permissions. This can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, lateral movement within networks, and the establishment of persistent backdoors. Organizations using affected IMC versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to network management systems, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures that rely on IMC for monitoring and management. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to maintain secure access controls and can lead to unauthorized configuration changes that impact network operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5361 focus primarily on immediate software updates and operational security measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the IMC platform, limiting exposure to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in web server access logs that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, and organizations should implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure, and access controls should be strictly enforced to minimize the attack surface.