CVE-2020-7158 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A perfselecttask 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-2020-7158 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 perfselecttask expression language component, which processes user-supplied input for performance monitoring tasks. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious expressions that bypass input validation mechanisms, ultimately enabling arbitrary code execution on the target system with the privileges of the iMC service account. This represents a significant security risk as iMC platforms typically operate with elevated privileges and manage critical network infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input within the perfselecttask expression language parser. When users submit performance monitoring tasks through the web interface, the system processes these inputs without sufficient validation or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious expressions that leverage the expression language's capabilities to execute system commands directly on the server. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when the injected commands target these interpreters. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate sandboxing of expression language evaluation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the iMC platform and potentially the entire network infrastructure it manages. Since iMC systems often serve as central management points for network devices, successful exploitation could enable attackers to monitor network traffic, modify device configurations, escalate privileges to administrative accounts, or even deploy additional malware within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HPE iMC for network management, potentially exposing critical infrastructure to unauthorized access and compromise. Network segmentation may not prevent exploitation if attackers can reach the iMC platform through other attack vectors, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network monitoring systems are central to security operations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including patching to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and expression language sanitization. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting access to the iMC platform through firewalls, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious activity related to performance monitoring tasks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating and sanitizing all user inputs, particularly in systems that process expression languages or scripting constructs. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of similar components within their infrastructure to identify and remediate potential expression language injection vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of input validation mechanisms in web applications and management platforms to prevent similar issues from arising in other systems.