CVE-2006-3686 in OpenVMS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in [SYSEXE]SMPUTIL.EXE in HP OpenVMS 7.3-2 allows local users and "remote users" to cause a denial of service (crash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3686 affects HP OpenVMS 7.3-2 systems through the SYSEXE SMPUTIL.EXE component, representing a significant security weakness that impacts system availability. This issue demonstrates how critical system utilities can contain flaws that compromise operational integrity regardless of whether the attack originates locally or remotely. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undocumented in the public record, though its impact on system stability is clear.
The technical flaw manifests within the SMPUTIL.EXE utility which is responsible for managing symmetric multiprocessing configurations in OpenVMS environments. When exploited, this vulnerability enables both local and remote attackers to trigger system crashes that result in denial of service conditions. The fact that both local and remote exploitation vectors are possible indicates that the vulnerability exists at a level that can be accessed through multiple network interfaces or system access points, making it particularly dangerous for production environments. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-119 category of "Improper Access to Resources via Universal Resource Identifier" or similar memory corruption patterns that can lead to system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to mission-critical systems that rely on HP OpenVMS for business operations. The ability to cause system crashes through either local or remote access means that adversaries can disrupt services without requiring physical presence or complex network reconnaissance. Organizations running this version of OpenVMS may experience unexpected system downtime, data processing interruptions, and potential loss of system availability during critical operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect system reliability and the overall trustworthiness of the computing infrastructure.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which focuses on network denial of service attacks and system compromise through availability disruption. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying available patches from HP, restricting access to the affected utility, and monitoring system logs for signs of exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the attack surface, while regular system updates and vulnerability assessments remain crucial for maintaining security posture. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and following vendor advisories for system components that handle critical system functions, as the lack of specific technical details does not diminish the severity of potential impact.