CVE-2011-0890 in Discovery
Summary
by MITRE
HP Discovery & Dependency Mapping Inventory (DDMI) 7.50, 7.51, 7.60, 7.61, 7.70, and 9.30 launches the Windows SNMP service with its default configuration, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information or have unspecified other impact by leveraging the public read community.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0890 affects HP Discovery & Dependency Mapping Inventory versions 7.50 through 9.30, representing a significant security flaw in network discovery and inventory management systems. This issue stems from the improper configuration of the Windows SNMP service that is launched by the DDMI application during its operation. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where the Windows SNMP service runs with default settings, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to system information.
The technical flaw resides in the default configuration of the Windows SNMP service which is initiated by HP DDMI. When the service operates with its standard settings, it exposes a public read community string that allows remote attackers to perform SNMP queries against the target system. This default configuration creates a persistent security risk where attackers can leverage the public read community to gather potentially sensitive information from the managed devices. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-255 Credential Management Errors, as it involves improper handling of authentication mechanisms within the SNMP service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with unspecified other impacts that could include system enumeration, network mapping, and potential escalation of privileges. Remote attackers can utilize the public read community to perform SNMP walks and retrieve system information such as running processes, network configuration details, installed software, and other system attributes. This information can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and targeted exploitation of other system vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that DDMI is designed for network inventory and discovery purposes, meaning it typically runs on systems with elevated network access and privileges.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1082 System Information Discovery, where adversaries seek to gather detailed information about the target system. Additionally, the vulnerability supports T1104 Multi-Stage Channels, as attackers can use the discovered information to establish more persistent access. Organizations using affected HP DDMI versions face the risk of unauthorized information gathering, which could lead to comprehensive network mapping and potential compromise of critical infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where DDMI systems may have access to sensitive network segments and critical system information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate configuration changes to the Windows SNMP service running within the HP DDMI environment. Administrators should modify the SNMP service configuration to remove or restrict the public read community string, implement proper access controls, and ensure that only authorized users can perform SNMP queries against the system. The recommended approach involves configuring the SNMP service to use private community strings with restricted access permissions, implementing network segmentation to limit SNMP access, and regularly auditing SNMP service configurations. Organizations should also consider disabling the Windows SNMP service entirely if it is not required for the operation of DDMI, or implement proper firewall rules to restrict access to SNMP ports from trusted sources only. These measures align with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks for system and network security controls.