CVE-2000-0251 in VirtualVault
Summary
by MITRE
HP-UX 11.04 VirtualVault (VVOS) sends data to unprivileged processes via an interface that has multiple aliased IP addresses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0251 represents a significant security flaw in HP-UX 11.04 VirtualVault operating system implementation. This issue specifically affects the VVOS (VirtualVault Operating System) component of HP-UX systems, where the operating system's network interface handling mechanism fails to properly enforce privilege boundaries when transmitting data to processes that should not have access to such information. The vulnerability stems from the way the system manages multiple aliased IP addresses within its network stack, creating an unexpected pathway for information disclosure.
The technical flaw manifests when the VirtualVault system processes network data and distributes it through interfaces that support multiple IP address aliases. Under normal circumstances, privileged system components should not share sensitive data with unprivileged processes, but this vulnerability allows for such data leakage to occur through the aliased address mechanism. The system's network interface layer does not adequately validate or restrict access permissions when routing data through these multiple address aliases, creating a potential attack vector where malicious unprivileged processes could intercept or access data that should remain restricted to privileged system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the privilege separation model that is essential for system security. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities within the HP-UX environment. The vulnerability affects systems running HP-UX 11.04 with VirtualVault functionality, representing a critical security gap that undermines the integrity of the system's access control mechanisms. This flaw particularly impacts environments where security is paramount, as it allows for unauthorized data access through legitimate network interface pathways.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and specifically relates to improper restriction of information flow within system components. From an ATT&CK perspective, this issue maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and potentially T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) as attackers could leverage the information disclosure to gain additional system access. The weakness demonstrates poor implementation of access controls and privilege separation, which are fundamental requirements in secure system design. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, proper access control configuration, and system updates to address this vulnerability that could allow attackers to exploit the aliased IP address interface for unauthorized data access.
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of network interface access controls within the HP-UX VirtualVault implementation. The system fails to properly enforce the principle of least privilege when handling network data through aliased IP addresses, allowing data to flow to processes that should not have access to such information. This represents a failure in the system's security architecture where the network stack does not adequately protect sensitive data flows through its interface mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper privilege separation and access control implementation, particularly in operating system components that handle sensitive data processing.