CVE-2019-5373 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-2019-5373 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT platforms running versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of the IMC platform, which serves as a centralized management solution for HPE networking equipment and infrastructure. The affected system operates with administrative privileges and provides extensive network management capabilities including device monitoring, configuration management, and performance analytics across enterprise networks. The vulnerability specifically affects the platform's handling of user-supplied input within certain web application components, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the target system without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms within the IMC platform's web interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit a command injection vulnerability, allowing them to execute operating system commands with the privileges of the web application user. This flaw typically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before processing it in system commands or database queries. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 classifications, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, which are fundamental security flaws that enable attackers to execute arbitrary code. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that IMC platforms are often deployed in enterprise environments where they maintain access to critical network infrastructure and sensitive operational data.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5373 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the IMC platform, enabling them to manipulate network configurations, extract sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network segments. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1078 which addresses valid accounts for lateral movement. Organizations using affected IMC versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network management systems, potentially leading to service disruption, data breaches, and compliance violations. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that IMC systems often operate with elevated privileges and maintain access to network devices across multiple network segments, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise networks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the command injection vulnerability. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to isolate IMC platforms from critical network infrastructure, limiting potential attack vectors and reducing the impact of successful exploitation. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests, disabling unnecessary services and ports, and conducting regular security assessments of the management platform. The vulnerability's characteristics align with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's Protect function, particularly in the areas of awareness and training, as well as the Detect function through continuous monitoring of network traffic for suspicious patterns. Security teams should also implement logging and monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect command injection attempts and unauthorized administrative access to network management systems.