CVE-2020-24646
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC) systems via a stack-based buffer overflow in the TFTP server component. Attackers can exploit this without authentication to gain full control of the vulnerable system. Organizations running iMC PLAT versions prior to 7.3 (E0705P07) are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- HPE Intelligent Management Center (iMC)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with administrative privileges, enabling data theft, lateral movement, and persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to system takeover, credential harvesting, and deployment of ransomware or other malware.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if network segmentation prevents external access to the TFTP service and proper monitoring detects exploitation attempts.
🎯 Exploit Status
Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network services are frequently weaponized. The high CVSS score and remote unauthenticated nature make this attractive to attackers.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: iMC PLAT 7.3 (E0705P07) or later
Vendor Advisory: https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbnw04036en_us
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the iMC PLAT 7.3 (E0705P07) patch from the HPE support portal. 2. Backup the iMC database and configuration. 3. Apply the patch following HPE's installation guide. 4. Restart the iMC services and verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable TFTP Server
windowsDisable the TFTP server component if not required for operations.
Navigate to iMC Platform Configuration > Service Management > Stop TFTP Server service
Network Segmentation
allRestrict network access to the TFTP service port (typically UDP 69) using firewall rules.
Windows Firewall: New-InboundFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block iMC TFTP" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 69 -Protocol UDP -Action Block
Linux iptables: iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 69 -j DROP
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the iMC system in a dedicated management VLAN with strict access controls.
- Implement network monitoring and intrusion detection specifically for TFTP traffic anomalies to the iMC system.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the iMC version via the web interface (Help > About) or by examining the installation directory version files.Check Version:
On Windows: Check 'C:\Program Files\iMC\client\bin\imcversion.ini' or similar installation path files.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify the version shows iMC PLAT 7.3 (E0705P07) or later and confirm the TFTP service is either patched or disabled.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual TFTP server error messages or crashes in iMC logs
- Windows Event Logs showing unexpected process creation from iMC TFTP service
Network Indicators:
- Unusual UDP traffic to port 69 with large payloads
- TFTP protocol anomalies or buffer overflow patterns
SIEM Query:
source="iMC_logs" AND ("TFTP" AND ("overflow" OR "crash" OR "exception")) OR destination_port=69 AND protocol=udp AND bytes>1024