CVE-2020-7146 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A devgroupselect 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-2020-7146 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 vulnerability resides within the devgroupselect expression language component, which processes user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious expressions that can be executed within the context of the iMC application, potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution vulnerability under CWE-94, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary code due to improper handling of untrusted input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the expression language processing mechanism within the iMC platform where user-provided data is directly incorporated into internal evaluation expressions. When the system processes these expressions, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that can execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The vulnerability specifically affects the devgroupselect functionality, which is used for device group selection and management within the iMC environment. This creates a dangerous attack surface where remote unauthenticated users can leverage the expression language injection to gain unauthorized access to the underlying system.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7146 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to achieve complete system compromise without requiring authentication. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the iMC service account, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system manipulation, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of HPE iMC, which typically serves as a central point for network device management, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise networks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the use of expression languages for code execution.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches for iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or higher versions. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of iMC systems to untrusted networks. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual expression language usage patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in enterprise management platforms and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of expression language processing components. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify and block exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.