CVE-2020-7165 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A iccselectcommand 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-2020-7165 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 vulnerability resides within the iccselectcommand functionality and enables remote code execution through crafted input manipulation. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before processing it within the application's expression evaluation engine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets interpreted as part of an expression language command within the iccselectcommand functionality. This allows adversaries to inject arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the affected application process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code and is closely related to CWE-74 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the affected iMC platform. Successful exploitation could lead to data exfiltration, system compromise, lateral movement within the network, and potential disruption of critical network management operations. Since iMC platforms typically manage and monitor enterprise network infrastructure, the compromise of such systems can result in widespread network visibility loss and operational disruption. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of HPE's network management solution, potentially exposing sensitive network information and providing attackers with persistent access to the enterprise network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7165 should prioritize immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates for iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 and subsequent versions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of iMC platforms to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in application design, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and related techniques for remote code execution. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.