CVE-2019-5382 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-2019-5382 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center IMC PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue affects organizations relying on HPE's network management platform for monitoring and controlling their enterprise networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web application framework that processes user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending maliciously crafted requests to the affected system, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying operating system and executing arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic input sanitization failure where the IMC platform fails to properly validate and sanitize user inputs before processing them within the application's backend services. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through various input vectors including form fields, URL parameters, or HTTP headers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables full remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise network infrastructure. The flaw likely resides in the platform's web server component or application framework that handles user requests and processes them without adequate security controls.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2019-5382 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within the network. Organizations utilizing affected IMC versions face significant risks including data breaches, system infiltration, and disruption of critical network management functions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of HPE IMC, which typically serves as a central management point for network devices, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental security weakness that can lead to various injection attacks including command injection and code execution.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in severe consequences for enterprise security posture, potentially allowing attackers to deploy additional malware, establish backdoors, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for attacking other network segments. Organizations may experience service disruption, data loss, and compliance violations if their network management infrastructure becomes compromised. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous in environments where network management systems are exposed to external traffic or where insufficient network segmentation exists.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5382 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate the affected systems from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activities. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing strong access controls, and conducting thorough network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper security controls around network management systems. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for network management accounts and regularly review access controls to minimize potential impact from similar vulnerabilities. This flaw highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing and validation of network management platforms against known attack patterns and exploitation techniques.