CVE-2011-0344 in OmniPCX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in unspecified CGI programs in the Unified Maintenance Tool web interface in the embedded web server in the Communication Server (CS) in Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise before R9.0 H1.301.50 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted HTTP headers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0344 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting the Unified Maintenance Tool web interface within Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise communication systems. This flaw exists within the embedded web server component and specifically targets CGI programs that handle HTTP header processing. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to permit remote code execution when attackers craft malicious HTTP headers that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing stack corruption that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the web server's CGI programs that process HTTP headers. When the embedded web server receives HTTP requests containing oversized header values, the buffer overflow occurs in the stack memory allocation, leading to potential overwrite of adjacent memory locations including return addresses and program control structures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been a persistent concern in software development practices. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to validate or limit the length of HTTP header values before processing them, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain administrative privileges on the communication server, potentially leading to unauthorized access to voice and data communications, disruption of services, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The embedded nature of the web server within the OmniPCX Enterprise system means that exploitation could affect critical telecommunications infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where communication systems are central to business operations. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services, as it targets a remote web interface to achieve system compromise, and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, since successful exploitation would likely involve executing arbitrary commands on the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0344 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Enterprise systems to the recommended firmware versions that address the buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the affected communication servers from critical network segments and apply strict access controls to limit who can interact with the web interface. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP header patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of input validation and bounds checking in web applications, with security teams needing to review similar code patterns across their infrastructure for potential analogous flaws. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other embedded web servers or CGI applications that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions, as the underlying architectural issues that allow this vulnerability are common across many embedded systems and web applications.