CVE-2020-7145 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A chooseperfview 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-2020-7145 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 resides within the chooseperfview expression language component, which processes user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious expressions that are subsequently executed within the application's runtime environment, potentially allowing full system compromise. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, specifically related to expression language injection vulnerabilities. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries leverage application expression languages to execute arbitrary commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the chooseperfview functionality of the iMC platform. When users provide input to performance view configuration parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as command sequences. This allows malicious actors to craft payloads that bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the platform's core management capabilities, potentially providing attackers with access to sensitive network infrastructure data and operational controls. The remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or prior authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7145 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise network security infrastructure. Organizations using affected iMC versions face potential exposure to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical network management functions. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to maintain secure performance monitoring and management capabilities, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate network performance data or gain unauthorized access to underlying network devices. Security teams must consider the broader implications for their network monitoring infrastructure, as compromised iMC platforms could provide attackers with visibility into network operations and facilitate further attacks against connected systems. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on HPE's network management solutions for their infrastructure monitoring and control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7145 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to iMC platforms and restrict administrative access to only authorized personnel. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious expression language usage patterns and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Security configurations should enforce strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data within the platform. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices that prevent expression language injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network management systems and ensure comprehensive protection against similar remote code execution threats.