CVE-2010-4108 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
HP HP-UX B.11.11, B.11.23, and B.11.31 does not properly support threaded processes, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4108 affects Hewlett Packard HP-UX operating system versions B.11.11, B.11.23, and B.11.31, specifically relating to improper handling of threaded processes within the system architecture. This flaw represents a critical design weakness in the operating system's threading implementation that manifests as a denial of service condition. The vulnerability exists in the kernel-level thread management subsystem where the operating system fails to properly coordinate or handle concurrent threaded processes, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by authenticated remote attackers. The lack of proper thread synchronization and resource management mechanisms within the affected HP-UX versions creates pathways for malicious actors to destabilize system operations through carefully crafted thread-related requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient thread state management and resource allocation handling within the HP-UX kernel. When threaded processes are created and executed, the system's internal thread scheduler and resource management components fail to maintain proper consistency in thread states, leading to potential deadlocks, resource leaks, or memory corruption scenarios. Attackers can exploit this by establishing authenticated connections to the system and then initiating specific sequences of threaded operations that trigger the underlying kernel flaw. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack pathways exist, potentially including thread creation, destruction, context switching, or resource contention scenarios that all converge on the same fundamental threading implementation weakness. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-116, which addresses improper handling of synchronization primitives, and falls under the broader category of improper resource management in concurrent systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4108 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to complete system instability and potential data loss within affected HP-UX environments. Organizations running these specific versions of HP-UX face significant risk of unauthorized service interruption, particularly in mission-critical systems where availability is paramount. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for network-connected environments. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1072, which involves exploitation of remote services. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where HP-UX systems may serve as critical infrastructure components, potentially affecting business continuity and operational resilience. System administrators may observe unexpected process termination, system hangs, or complete system crashes when this vulnerability is successfully exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4108 primarily focus on immediate patching and system updates from HP, as the vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the kernel threading implementation that cannot be effectively addressed through configuration changes alone. Organizations should prioritize applying the official HP security patches released for the affected HP-UX versions, which typically include kernel-level fixes addressing the thread management inconsistencies. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the attack surface, restricting remote authentication access to only necessary administrative accounts. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual thread creation patterns or resource consumption spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known exploitation patterns related to this vulnerability can provide early warning capabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing process isolation techniques and resource limits for threaded applications to minimize the potential impact should exploitation occur. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue means that redundancy and failover mechanisms should be in place to maintain service availability during potential exploitation events.