CVE-2020-6652 in Intelligent Power Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect Privilege Assignment vulnerability in Eaton's Intelligent Power Manager (IPM) v1.67 & prior allow non-admin users to upload the system configuration files by sending specially crafted requests. This can result in non-admin users manipulating the system configurations via uploading the configurations with incorrect parameters.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2020
The CVE-2020-6652 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Eaton's Intelligent Power Manager software version 1.67 and earlier releases. This vulnerability falls under the category of incorrect privilege assignment as defined by CWE-266, where the system fails to properly enforce access controls for sensitive operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the configuration upload functionality of the IPM system, which is designed to manage power distribution and monitoring in enterprise environments. The flaw allows unauthorized users to bypass normal administrative restrictions and upload system configuration files, fundamentally undermining the security model of the platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the IPM's web interface. When non-administrative users send specially crafted HTTP requests to the configuration upload endpoint, the system does not properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges to perform such operations. This oversight creates a path for privilege escalation where any authenticated user can manipulate system configurations through crafted file uploads. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly enables attackers to modify critical power management parameters that could affect system stability, security posture, and operational continuity.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6652 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and business disruption. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could upload malicious configuration files that alter power distribution settings, potentially causing equipment failures, system downtime, or even physical damage to power infrastructure. The ability to manipulate system configurations also provides attackers with opportunities to establish persistence within the environment, modify security policies, or disable critical monitoring functions. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" and T1566 which covers "Phishing" as attackers could use this to gain unauthorized access to power management systems.
Organizations utilizing Eaton IPM v1.67 or earlier versions face significant security risks from this vulnerability. The impact is particularly severe in data center and critical infrastructure environments where power management systems are integral to operations. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate security boundaries of the IPM system but can also compromise broader network security postures when power management systems are integrated with other enterprise infrastructure. The attack surface is further expanded because these systems are often accessible over network interfaces and may be exposed to untrusted network segments. Remediation efforts must include immediate software updates to versions that address the privilege assignment flaw, along with network segmentation and access control reviews to limit exposure of the IPM interfaces to unauthorized users. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes and establish proper administrative access controls to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components.