CVE-2020-7172 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A templateselect 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-2020-7172 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 issue stems from improper input validation in the template selection expression language component, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the system. The vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of iMC, which is commonly used for network management and monitoring across enterprise environments. The affected system architecture processes template expressions through a vulnerable parser that fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to manipulate the expression language and execute unauthorized commands with the privileges of the affected service account.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of template selection parameters within the iMC web interface, where the system processes user-provided expressions without sufficient validation mechanisms. This flaw falls under the CWE-94 category of Code Injection, specifically representing a Server-Side Template Injection vulnerability that enables remote code execution. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious template expressions that bypass input sanitization controls and are subsequently interpreted by the vulnerable template engine. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple command execution as it allows for full system compromise, potentially enabling attackers to gain persistent access to network management infrastructure. The root cause lies in the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the template processing pipeline, which directly violates security best practices for web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7172 is severe for organizations utilizing affected iMC versions, as it provides attackers with complete control over network management systems that often serve as central points of administration for enterprise networks. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose their iMC interfaces to external networks or maintain insufficient network segmentation. The compromise of iMC platforms can lead to widespread network disruption, unauthorized access to sensitive network configurations, and potential lateral movement within the enterprise environment. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1078 for Valid Accounts, as successful exploitation typically requires leveraging legitimate administrative access within the system. Organizations may face significant operational disruption as attackers can manipulate network policies, access confidential data, and potentially cause service outages.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including patching to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or higher versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to iMC interfaces, particularly restricting external exposure of management systems. Implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious template expression patterns can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network scans to identify all affected iMC installations and ensure proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for regular security assessments of network management platforms. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of similar template injection vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their network infrastructure.