CVE-2020-24650 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A legend expression language injection remote code execution vulnerability was discovered in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) version(s): Prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 (E0705P07).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24650 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center iMC platform, specifically affecting versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07. This vulnerability resides in the legend expression language processing functionality, which is commonly used for generating dynamic visual representations of network data and system metrics. The affected system operates as a comprehensive network management solution that aggregates and presents data from various network devices, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the legend expression language parser. When the system processes user-supplied data through the legend expression functionality, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as command sequences. This allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject malicious code that gets executed within the context of the iMC application, potentially with elevated privileges depending on the system configuration. The vulnerability manifests as a classic command injection flaw where attacker-controlled input is directly passed to system execution functions without proper sanitization, creating a pathway for arbitrary code execution on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to the network management infrastructure. Once exploited, the attacker can leverage the compromised iMC platform to monitor network traffic, manipulate system configurations, and potentially use it as a launch point for further attacks within the enterprise network. The vulnerability affects the core management capabilities of the system, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to disrupt network operations, steal sensitive configuration data, or use the platform as a pivot point for attacking other network segments. This represents a significant threat to enterprise network security since iMC systems typically maintain elevated privileges and have access to critical network information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-24650 should prioritize immediate patching of affected iMC versions to the recommended iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to iMC systems, restrict remote access to only necessary personnel, and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories related to command injection and code injection flaws, and the exploitation pattern matches techniques described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071 for application layer protocol. Additionally, implementing input validation controls, disabling unnecessary services, and maintaining up-to-date security monitoring procedures will significantly reduce the risk exposure associated with this vulnerability.