CVE-2016-4368
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected HPE Universal CMDB and Universal Discovery systems by sending a specially crafted serialized Java object. The flaw exists in the Apache Commons Collections library used by these products, enabling remote code execution without authentication. Organizations running HPE Universal CMDB 10.0-10.21, Universal CMDB Configuration Manager 10.0-10.21, or Universal Discovery 10.0-10.21 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- HPE Universal CMDB
- HPE Universal CMDB Configuration Manager
- HPE Universal Discovery
📦 What is this software?
Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager by Hp
View all CVEs affecting Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager →
Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager by Hp
View all CVEs affecting Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager →
Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager by Hp
View all CVEs affecting Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager →
Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager by Hp
View all CVEs affecting Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager →
Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager by Hp
View all CVEs affecting Universal Cmbd Configuration Manager →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with system privileges, potentially leading to data theft, lateral movement, or deployment of ransomware.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to installation of backdoors, credential harvesting, or deployment of cryptocurrency miners on vulnerable systems.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if systems are patched, network segmentation is in place, and proper monitoring detects exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
This vulnerability leverages the well-known Apache Commons Collections deserialization vulnerability (CVE-2015-4852) and has publicly available exploit code.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 10.22 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05164408
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the patch from HPE Support Center. 2. Apply the patch following HPE's installation instructions. 3. Restart the affected services. 4. Verify the patch was successfully applied.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allRestrict network access to vulnerable systems using firewalls or network segmentation.
WAF Rules
allImplement Web Application Firewall rules to block serialized Java object payloads.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Immediately isolate vulnerable systems from the internet and restrict internal network access.
- Implement strict network monitoring and alerting for any attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the product version via the administration console or configuration files. If version is between 10.0 and 10.21 inclusive, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Check the product documentation for version verification commands specific to your installation.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the product version is 10.22 or later after applying the patch.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual Java deserialization errors in application logs
- Unexpected process execution from the application server
- Suspicious network connections originating from the application server
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing serialized Java objects to vulnerable endpoints
- Outbound connections from the application server to unknown external IPs
SIEM Query:
Search for: (event_source="HPE UCMDB" OR event_source="HPE UD") AND (error_message CONTAINS "deserialization" OR process_execution="unexpected")