CVE-2011-0268 in OpenView Network Node Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in nnmRptConfig.exe in HP OpenView Network Node Manager (OV NNM) 7.51 and 7.53 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long text1 parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0268 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the nnmRptConfig.exe component of HP OpenView Network Node Manager versions 7.51 and 7.53. This issue resides in the network monitoring and management software suite that organizations rely upon to maintain their IT infrastructure visibility and operational integrity. The buffer overflow vulnerability specifically manifests when processing the text1 parameter, which suggests the flaw occurs during report configuration operations within the network node manager environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which encompasses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running affected versions of HP OpenView NNM. The attack vector requires sending a specially crafted request containing an excessively long text1 parameter to the vulnerable nnmRptConfig.exe process. When the application fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-length buffers, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting program execution flow. This overflow condition can be leveraged to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program variables, allowing attackers to redirect execution to malicious code payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when programs write beyond allocated buffer boundaries, though the specific implementation suggests stack-based exploitation is more likely in this context.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations utilizing HP OpenView NNM for network monitoring and management. Attackers who successfully exploit this buffer overflow can gain unauthorized code execution privileges on network management servers, potentially compromising the entire network monitoring infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries need not have physical access to systems or be within the local network perimeter to exploit the vulnerability. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where network administrators and security personnel may be unaware of compromise until malicious activity has already occurred. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential data exfiltration, network reconnaissance, and disruption of critical network monitoring services that organizations depend upon for operational continuity.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official HP security patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security updates from HP that address the buffer overflow condition in nnmRptConfig.exe. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the vulnerable components to untrusted networks or users. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in report configuration requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in network management applications, as outlined in security best practices from the Center for Internet Security and other industry standards. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable components within their HP OpenView NNM deployments and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve execution of malicious code through the compromised network management system.