CVE-2020-7154 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A ifviewselectpage 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-2020-7154 represents a critical expression language injection flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07. This issue resides within the ifviewselectpage component, which processes user input through expression language evaluation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web application's processing pipeline, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary expression language code that gets executed on the server-side. Such flaws typically arise from improper handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently processed through interpreted expression engines, creating a direct pathway for remote code execution attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that bypasses normal validation checks and gets processed through the vulnerable expression language interpreter. This allows the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the target system with the privileges of the web application server. The flaw is classified as a remote code execution vulnerability under CWE-94, which specifically addresses weaknesses in code that allows arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no authentication for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the iMC platform is accessible to unauthenticated users. The expression language injection occurs during the processing of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into server-side evaluation contexts without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7154 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected iMC platform. This compromise can lead to data exfiltration, system enumeration, lateral movement within the network, and potential persistence mechanisms. Organizations using vulnerable iMC versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to network management data and infrastructure monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability affects the platform's ability to maintain secure network operations and can result in service disruption, data loss, and regulatory compliance violations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage the compromised system for further infiltration activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7154 primarily focus on upgrading to the patched iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 version or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to iMC platforms, enforce strict firewall rules, and monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when dealing with interpreted expression languages. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address potential compromises. Regular patch management and vulnerability assessment programs are essential to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the network infrastructure.