CVE-2020-7183 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2020
A forwardredirect 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-2020-7183 represents a critical forward redirect expression language injection flaw in HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) platforms. This vulnerability affects versions prior to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 and demonstrates a significant security weakness in the platform's handling of user input within forward redirect mechanisms. The issue stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of input parameters that are processed through expression language evaluation systems, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted input that leverages the expression language processing engine within the iMC platform. When the system processes forward redirect requests containing malicious payload data, the expression language interpreter evaluates and executes unintended code sequences. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1059.006 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when these are used in the injected payloads. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized execution privileges within the target environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across enterprise network management environments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can achieve complete system compromise, allowing them to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the iMC service account. This typically translates to unauthorized access to network device configurations, user credentials, and sensitive operational data. The affected environment includes enterprise networks that rely on HPE iMC for network management, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with large-scale network infrastructures. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means attackers can exploit it from external network positions without requiring physical access to the target systems, significantly expanding the attack surface.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary and most effective mitigation involves upgrading to iMC PLAT 7.3 E0705P07 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of iMC systems to untrusted networks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous forward redirect patterns and unusual command execution behaviors. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all network management systems are properly configured with least privilege access controls. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping enterprise network management platforms updated and maintaining robust security practices across all operational technology systems.