CVE-2001-0552 in Openview Network Node Manager
Summary
by MITRE
ovactiond in HP OpenView Network Node Manager (NNM) 6.1 and Tivoli Netview 5.x and 6.x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a certain SNMP trap message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0552 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within HP OpenView Network Node Manager version 6.1 and Tivoli Netview versions 5.x and 6.x. This vulnerability specifically affects the ovactiond component, which serves as the action daemon responsible for processing various network events and trap messages within these network monitoring systems. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization when processing SNMP trap messages, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to leverage shell metacharacters within SNMP trap messages to gain unauthorized command execution privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of user-supplied data within the ovactiond process. When the system receives an SNMP trap message, it processes the trap data without adequate sanitization of special shell characters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that could be interpreted by the underlying shell. This design flaw creates a classic command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled input is concatenated directly into shell commands without proper escaping or filtering. The vulnerability maps to CWE-77 which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')", a well-documented weakness that has been consistently exploited in network management systems due to their privileged execution contexts. The attack vector is particularly insidious as it requires minimal privileges to exploit, since SNMP traps are typically accepted from network devices without strict authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected network monitoring infrastructure. Once exploited, attackers can manipulate network configurations, disable monitoring capabilities, steal sensitive network information, or even use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network perimeter. The vulnerability affects enterprise network management systems that are often considered critical infrastructure components, making the potential impact substantial for organizations relying on these platforms for network visibility and security monitoring. The affected systems typically operate with elevated privileges to perform network management functions, which means successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to the broader network environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the use of shell commands to execute malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-0552 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability has been widely documented and exploited in the wild. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit SNMP trap reception to trusted sources only, utilizing firewall rules to restrict access to the affected ports and services. Input validation and sanitization measures must be strengthened at all levels of the data processing pipeline, particularly focusing on the SNMP trap message handling within the ovactiond component. Security administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual SNMP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and harden their network management system configurations to minimize the attack surface and reduce the privileges of the ovactiond process where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in network management systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of enterprise monitoring infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to detect command injection attempts in network management protocols and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence regarding exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in network monitoring platforms.