CVE-2019-5375 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-2019-5375 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue affects the platform's handling of user-supplied input within its web interface, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters, particularly in the context of file upload and processing functionality. Security researchers discovered that malicious actors could exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted requests that bypass normal input sanitization mechanisms. The affected IMC platform serves as a centralized management solution for network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise entire network management systems. Organizations relying on HPE IMC for managing their network components face significant risk if they operate vulnerable versions of the software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of file upload operations within the web application's processing pipeline. Attackers can leverage this flaw by uploading malicious files that are subsequently processed by the server without adequate security checks. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the application handles certain HTTP parameters and file content, allowing for code injection attacks that can execute with the privileges of the web application service account. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation, which maps to CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation, and falls under the broader category of web application security flaws. The attack vector requires remote access to the web interface, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed management interfaces. The exploitation process typically involves sending crafted requests that trigger the vulnerable code path, ultimately leading to command execution on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the underlying network management infrastructure. Once successfully exploited, adversaries can potentially gain access to network configurations, device credentials, and other sensitive operational data managed by the IMC platform. This vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network environment, as the IMC platform often serves as a central hub for network operations. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise environments where network management systems contain critical infrastructure information and administrative credentials. Organizations may face data breaches, network disruption, and potential compromise of other connected systems that rely on the IMC platform for their management functions. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish backdoors or maintain persistent access to the network infrastructure, making it a high-value target for advanced persistent threat actors.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains patches addressing the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the IMC platform to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and monitoring of web application logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should align with defensive techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation domains. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary features, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and maintaining regular backups to ensure rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation.