CVE-2019-5368 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-2019-5368 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 user-supplied input in specific web interfaces, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests through improper validation of input parameters that are processed by the IMC platform's web server components, allowing malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations utilizing HPE IMC for network management and monitoring are particularly at risk since this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring valid credentials, making it especially dangerous in enterprise environments where network infrastructure management systems are critical components of overall security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input data within the web application layer of HPE IMC. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that contain specially formatted payloads designed to trigger code execution on the target system. The vulnerability specifically affects the platform's web services and administrative interfaces, where user-provided parameters are directly processed without adequate validation or sanitization. This type of flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves sending crafted HTTP requests containing malicious code that gets executed within the context of the web server process, potentially elevating privileges and allowing full system compromise. The attack surface is particularly broad since the affected components are accessible through standard network protocols and can be reached from external networks without requiring physical access to the target infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5368 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations running vulnerable HPE IMC versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to network management data, including sensitive configuration information, user credentials, and system monitoring details. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making traditional network perimeter defenses insufficient for protection. Successful exploitation can result in persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, and the ability to manipulate network infrastructure configurations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for IT security teams managing large enterprise networks, as compromise of the IMC platform can affect visibility and control of the entire network infrastructure. The impact is further compounded by the fact that IMC systems often serve as central points for network monitoring, making them attractive targets for advanced persistent threat actors seeking long-term access to network environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address CVE-2019-5368, beginning with the mandatory upgrade to HPE IMC version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate IMC systems from critical network segments, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Access controls must be strengthened through the implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules that restrict access to IMC web interfaces to only trusted administrative networks. Regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious activity related to the affected web services is essential for early detection of exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their network infrastructure, as similar vulnerabilities may exist in related components. Security teams should implement intrusion detection systems with signatures specifically targeting exploitation attempts of this vulnerability, and maintain detailed incident response procedures for potential compromise scenarios. The mitigation approach should also include regular security awareness training for administrators who manage these systems to ensure proper configuration practices and recognition of potential attack indicators.