CVE-2019-5374 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-2019-5374 represents a critical remote code execution flaw discovered in HPE Intelligent Management Center IMC PLAT versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This vulnerability affects HPE's network management platform that provides centralized management capabilities for various network devices and services. The flaw exists within the web application interface of the IMC platform, specifically in how it handles certain input parameters during authentication and session management processes. Security researchers identified that malicious actors could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the application server. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the platform's web services, creating a pathway for unauthorized remote access and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic input sanitization failure where the IMC platform fails to properly validate or sanitize user input parameters before processing them within the application context. Attackers can craft malicious requests containing specially formatted payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and leverage the platform's processing logic to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and falls under the broader category of command injection attacks. The flaw specifically impacts the platform's web administration interface, where user credentials and session data are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without prior authentication or legitimate access credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5374 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access for attackers. Organizations utilizing affected IMC versions face significant risks including data exfiltration, network reconnaissance, lateral movement within their infrastructure, and potential disruption of critical network management services. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose their IMC platforms to external networks. Network administrators may experience unauthorized modifications to network configurations, credential theft, and complete loss of control over managed network devices. The impact is further amplified because IMC platforms typically serve as central management points for enterprise networks, making successful exploitation a severe threat to overall network security posture.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect against this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves upgrading to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms that address the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to the IMC platform, limiting exposure to only trusted administrative networks. Security controls such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and filter suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough network audits to identify any unauthorized access or suspicious activities that may have occurred during the vulnerability's window of exposure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar issues in other network management systems, as this vulnerability type represents a common attack vector in enterprise network environments. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, and emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and access control measures to prevent remote code execution attacks.