CVE-2019-5385 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-2019-5385 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center PLAT software versions prior to 7.3 E0506P09. This issue affects HPE's network management platform that provides centralized monitoring and management capabilities for enterprise networks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web interface of the IMC platform, specifically in how the system processes user-supplied data during certain administrative operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and execute arbitrary code on the target system with the privileges of the web application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper sanitization of input parameters within the IMC web application's processing pipeline. When administrators interact with specific management functions, the system fails to properly validate or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into system commands or database queries. This allows threat actors to inject malicious code that gets executed within the context of the web server process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system and execute commands remotely without requiring valid credentials for the management interface. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in input validation (CWE-20) combined with insufficient output escaping (CWE-116), creating a pathway for code injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5385 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Organizations using affected IMC versions face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and unauthorized network access. The vulnerability affects network infrastructure management systems that often serve as central points of control for enterprise networks, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or disrupt critical network operations. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as it allows for code execution through web-based interfaces. The attack surface includes any network administrator or user who has access to the vulnerable IMC web interface, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain full control over the management platform.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to HPE IMC PLAT version 7.3 E0506P09 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only. Regular security assessments and monitoring of web application logs should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activity targeting the affected platform. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping enterprise management platforms updated and maintaining robust security controls around privileged access points within network infrastructure.