CVE-2020-7147 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A deployselectbootrom 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 CVE-2020-7147 vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07. This vulnerability resides in the deployselectbootrom expression language injection functionality, which processes user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious expression language code that gets executed within the context of the iMC application, potentially enabling full system compromise and unauthorized access to network management functionalities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the expression language processing subsystem of the iMC platform. When the system processes user-provided parameters through the deployselectbootrom functionality, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as expression language syntax. This creates an injection vector where attackers can submit malicious payloads that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms and execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability specifically affects the platform's handling of expression language constructs that are meant to be used for legitimate configuration and deployment tasks but can be exploited to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected iMC platform and its underlying network management functions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities, escalate privileges, install backdoors, and potentially use the compromised iMC platform as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments that rely on iMC for critical network management operations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and relates to the broader category of injection flaws that remain among the most prevalent and dangerous security weaknesses in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1059.007 "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as attackers can leverage expression language injection to execute arbitrary commands through various scripting interpreters. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07, implementing network segmentation to limit access to iMC platforms, and monitoring for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their network management infrastructure and consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts.