CVE-2023-32267 in ArcSight Management Center
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2023
A potential vulnerability has been identified in OpenText / Micro Focus ArcSight Management Center. The vulnerability could be remotely exploited.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32267 affects OpenText Micro Focus ArcSight Management Center, a comprehensive security information and event management platform widely deployed in enterprise environments for threat detection and security orchestration. This vulnerability represents a significant concern given the critical role that ArcSight plays in organizational security infrastructure and its potential for remote exploitation without authentication. The affected system operates as a centralized security management solution that aggregates and analyzes security events from various sources across network infrastructure, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise security postures.
The technical flaw manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability within the ArcSight Management Center software, allowing unauthorized actors to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's processing pipeline. Specifically, the flaw exists in how the system handles certain API requests and parameter inputs, creating a pathway for malicious payloads to be interpreted and executed with the privileges of the running application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command, which indicates the system fails to properly sanitize inputs that could be used to manipulate system commands or execute unintended operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness through crafted HTTP requests or API calls that bypass normal authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing them to gain full control over the management center instance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, as the ArcSight Management Center serves as a central hub for security event correlation, log management, and threat intelligence aggregation. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive security logs, manipulate threat detection rules, disable security monitoring capabilities, or use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. Organizations may face significant data exposure risks, as the management center typically contains comprehensive security event data, user access logs, and system configuration information that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface and reducing the time required to establish a foothold within target environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-32267 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from OpenText/Micro Focus, as this represents the most effective defense against the identified vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the ArcSight Management Center from critical network segments and restrict access through firewalls and access control lists to only necessary administrative endpoints. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual API activity patterns or unexpected command execution attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against malformed requests that could trigger the vulnerability. According to ATT&CK framework techniques, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, highlighting the need for both defensive measures and proactive monitoring. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify any potential bypasses of mitigation strategies. Organizations should also maintain comprehensive incident response procedures that account for potential compromise of security management systems, ensuring rapid detection and remediation of any exploitation attempts.