CVE-2020-7151 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A faulttrapgroupselect 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 identified as CVE-2020-7151 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) platforms. This issue affects versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 and stems from improper input validation within the faulttrapgroupselect expression language processing functionality. The vulnerability exists in the way the system handles user-supplied input when constructing expression language queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code that executes within the context of the affected system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient sanitization and validation of user-provided data within the expression language processing engine. When the iMC platform processes faulttrapgroupselect expressions, it fails to properly validate or escape input parameters before incorporating them into internal processing logic. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and inject harmful code sequences. The vulnerability specifically impacts the expression language parser which is responsible for interpreting user-defined fault trap group selections, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within a privileged system context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing HPE iMC platforms for network management and monitoring. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially gain full control over the affected system without requiring authentication, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands, escalate privileges, and access sensitive network data. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise as the vulnerability affects the core management functionality of the platform, potentially enabling attackers to disrupt network operations, exfiltrate confidential information, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and follows patterns consistent with expression language injection attacks that have been documented in various enterprise management systems. Security researchers have classified this as a high-severity issue due to its remote exploitability and the privileged context in which the code executes. Organizations using vulnerable versions of iMC are particularly at risk since the platform typically runs with elevated privileges and has access to critical network management functions and data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to HPE iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later versions where the issue has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Network administrators should implement immediate network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure while applying patches. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious expression language usage patterns, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of network management infrastructure. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this class of vulnerability, which may require forensic analysis of compromised systems and network traffic examination for signs of exploitation attempts.