CVE-2011-0547 in NetBackup PureDisk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in vxsvc.exe in the Veritas Enterprise Administrator service in Symantec Veritas Storage Foundation 5.1 and earlier, Veritas Storage Foundation Cluster File System (SFCFS) 5.1 and earlier, Veritas Storage Foundation Cluster File System Enterprise for Oracle RAC (SFCFSORAC) 5.1 and earlier, Veritas Dynamic Multi-Pathing (DMP) 5.1, and NetBackup PureDisk 6.5.x through 6.6.1.x allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a crafted Unicode string, related to the vxveautil.value_binary_unpack function; (2) a crafted ASCII string, related to the vxveautil.value_binary_unpack function; or (3) a crafted value, related to the vxveautil.kv_binary_unpack function, leading to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0547 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Symantec Veritas Storage Foundation components including Enterprise Administrator service, Cluster File System, Dynamic Multi-Pathing, and NetBackup PureDisk products. This issue stems from integer overflows within the vxsvc.exe service process that handles various storage management functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions 5.1 and earlier of Veritas Storage Foundation products, as well as NetBackup PureDisk versions 6.5.x through 6.6.1.x, creating a widespread attack surface across enterprise storage infrastructure deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two primary attack vectors through the vxveautil.value_binary_unpack function and the vxveautil.kv_binary_unpack function. When processing crafted Unicode strings, ASCII strings, or manipulated values, the functions fail to properly validate integer parameters, leading to integer overflow conditions that subsequently cause buffer overflows. These buffer overflows occur because the software allocates memory based on incorrectly calculated integer values, allowing attackers to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw specifically relates to improper input validation and arithmetic operations that do not account for potential overflow conditions, making it susceptible to exploitation through carefully crafted malicious inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0547 is severe and far-reaching within enterprise environments relying on Veritas storage solutions. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially gaining full control over storage management services and underlying infrastructure. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to compromise storage configurations, access sensitive data stored on managed volumes, and potentially disrupt critical business operations. The vulnerability particularly affects clustered storage environments where the Enterprise Administrator service operates, making it a significant threat to high-availability storage systems that organizations depend upon for business continuity. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access or local credentials, increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions that can lead to buffer overflows and arbitrary code execution. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage buffer overflow exploits to gain code execution capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate memory management within the Veritas storage management service, representing a classic example of how insufficient bounds checking can create exploitable conditions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying vendor patches, restricting network access to affected services, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and comprehensive input validation in enterprise storage management software to prevent similar issues from occurring in future deployments.