CVE-2020-24652 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A addvsiinterfaceinfo 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 CVE-2020-24652 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 (E0705P07). This issue stems from improper input validation within the addvsiinterfaceinfo expression language component, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability exists in the platform's handling of user-supplied data within expression language contexts, where insufficient sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that are subsequently evaluated by the system's expression engine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted inputs that bypass input validation mechanisms within the iMC platform's interface processing layer. Attackers can leverage this flaw by submitting malicious expressions through the addvsiinterfaceinfo functionality, which then gets processed through the vulnerable expression language interpreter. This creates a direct code execution vector that can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the iMC platform serves as a central management point for enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Command Shell."
The operational impact of CVE-2020-24652 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network management data. Organizations running affected iMC versions face potential data breaches, system infiltration, and disruption of critical network management services. The vulnerability affects the platform's core management capabilities, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, deploy additional malware, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. Given that iMC systems typically serve as central management points for enterprise networks, the compromise of such systems can have cascading effects throughout the organization's IT infrastructure.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation through patch management procedures, applying the vendor-provided security updates that address the expression language injection vulnerability in iMC PLAT 7.3 and later versions. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of iMC systems to untrusted networks, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred prior to patch deployment, and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to ensure continued system stability and functionality.