CVE-2020-7177 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A wmiconfigcontent 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-2020-7177 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 wmiconfigcontent expression language component, which processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious expression language code that gets executed within the context of the iMC application, potentially providing full system compromise capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-94, which describes improper execution of dynamically-generated code or code-like strings, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise network management environments where administrative privileges are often required.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the wmiconfigcontent parameter in the iMC application's web interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage expression language injection techniques to bypass input validation mechanisms and execute arbitrary commands on the target system. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework category of T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of code through expression language processors. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it allows for privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats targeting enterprise network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-7177 is severe for organizations using affected iMC versions, as it provides attackers with complete control over the management platform. Since iMC serves as a central management console for network infrastructure, successful exploitation could enable attackers to monitor network traffic, modify configurations, disable security controls, and potentially spread malware throughout the enterprise network. The vulnerability affects the platform's core management functions and can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not properly segment their network management infrastructure from production networks. Organizations with multiple iMC instances or those using older versions may face widespread compromise across their network management estate.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-7177 primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. Network administrators should also implement strict input validation and sanitization policies for all user-supplied data, particularly in web applications that process expression language or similar scripting constructs. Additional defensive measures include network segmentation to isolate iMC platforms from critical production systems, implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious expression language patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts for maintaining persistent access to compromised systems.