CVE-2010-2704 in OpenView Network Node Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in HP OpenView Network Node Manager (OV NNM) 7.51 and 7.53 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP request to nnmrptconfig.exe.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2704 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in HP OpenView Network Node Manager versions 7.51 and 7.53. This security weakness specifically affects the nnmrptconfig.exe component which handles HTTP requests within the network monitoring platform. The flaw occurs when the application processes incoming HTTP requests without proper bounds checking on the length of input data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability resides in the network node manager's reporting configuration module, which is designed to handle various administrative functions through web-based interfaces.
This buffer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient validation of input length allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the program's execution stack. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to send a specially crafted HTTP request containing an excessive amount of data to the vulnerable nnmrptconfig.exe service. When the application attempts to process this malformed input, it fails to validate the buffer boundaries, causing memory corruption that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, out-of-bounds write conditions, where the application writes data beyond the allocated buffer space.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise of the affected HP OpenView Network Node Manager installations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running service account, potentially escalating to system-level access depending on the underlying operating system configuration. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network monitoring systems are often exposed to external networks. This flaw can result in data breaches, system downtime, and unauthorized access to critical network monitoring information that could be used to further compromise the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches released by HP, restricting network access to the affected components through firewalls and network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for remote code execution through web services, and T1068 for local privilege escalation. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for known exploit signatures and establish baseline network behavior to identify anomalous HTTP request patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation practices and proper bounds checking in network services, aligning with industry standards such as those recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for secure coding practices.