CVE-2007-3260 in System Management Homepage
Summary
by MITRE
HP System Management Homepage (SMH) before 2.1.9 for Linux, when used with Novell eDirectory, assigns the eDirectory members to the root group, which allows remote authenticated eDirectory users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3260 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HP System Management Homepage version 2.1.8 and earlier, specifically when integrated with Novell eDirectory directory services. This issue stems from improper group membership handling during user authentication processes, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited by authenticated attackers within the eDirectory environment. The vulnerability affects Linux systems running HP SMH and demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control implementation that directly impacts system security posture.
The technical flaw manifests when HP SMH processes user authentication requests through Novell eDirectory, where the system incorrectly assigns eDirectory members to the root group during the authentication process. This misconfiguration occurs at the user management layer, where the system fails to properly validate or restrict group assignments based on legitimate administrative requirements. The root group membership assignment creates an unintended privilege escalation path, as users who should only have limited directory access gain elevated system privileges. This behavior aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges for system resources, and represents a classic case of inadequate access control enforcement.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows remote authenticated eDirectory users to escalate their privileges from standard directory user level to root system administrator level. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise the entire system. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated user within the eDirectory domain can exploit this vulnerability from any network location, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where directory services are widely used. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure, as the compromised system can serve as a pivot point for further attacks.
The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where users receive more permissions than necessary for their legitimate roles. This flaw can be exploited through standard directory service authentication mechanisms, requiring only valid eDirectory credentials and network access to the affected HP SMH system. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1566, which addresses "Phishing for Information," as attackers might use social engineering to obtain legitimate eDirectory credentials before exploiting this technical weakness. The issue also aligns with CWE-787, which deals with out-of-bounds write operations that can occur during privilege assignment processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3260 should focus on immediate patching of HP SMH to version 2.1.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper group membership handling. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to HP SMH systems, ensuring that only authorized administrators can reach these management interfaces. Additional controls include implementing strict access controls within Novell eDirectory to minimize the scope of users who require elevated privileges, monitoring authentication logs for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, and conducting regular security audits of system management interfaces. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary HP SMH features that might contribute to the vulnerability and implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to management systems.