CVE-2011-0891 in HP-UX
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the OS-Core.CORE2-KRN fileset in HP HP-UX B.11.23 and B.11.31 allows local users to cause a denial of service via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0891 resides within the OS-Core.CORE2-KRN fileset of Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX operating systems, specifically affecting versions B.11.23 and B.11.31. This represents a local privilege escalation issue that enables authenticated users with system-level access to potentially disrupt normal system operations through unspecified attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification as a local denial of service indicates that exploitation requires prior system access, making it less immediately dangerous than remote vulnerabilities but still critically important for system integrity. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways could potentially trigger the vulnerability, complicating both exploitation and remediation efforts.
The technical flaw manifests within the kernel components of the HP-UX operating system, specifically within the core kernel fileset that manages fundamental system operations and resource allocation. As a local denial of service vulnerability, the flaw likely involves improper handling of system calls or kernel memory management functions that could lead to system crashes, process termination, or resource exhaustion. The core kernel components are particularly sensitive because they control critical system functions including process scheduling, memory management, and inter-process communication mechanisms. When these components become compromised through local exploitation, the entire system stability is at risk, potentially leading to complete system shutdown or requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments running HP-UX systems, particularly in mission-critical applications where system uptime is essential. Local users with legitimate system access could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt services, potentially affecting database operations, web servers, or other critical infrastructure components that depend on stable kernel operations. The attack vectors could involve manipulating kernel data structures, triggering memory corruption scenarios, or exploiting race conditions within kernel code execution paths. Organizations may experience unplanned system downtime, data loss, or service interruptions that could result in substantial financial and operational impacts. The vulnerability's presence in multiple HP-UX versions suggests that a broad range of systems could be affected, making it a widespread concern for system administrators.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2011-0891 primarily involves applying official security patches provided by HP to address the underlying kernel vulnerabilities. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected HP-UX systems, particularly those running versions B.11.23 and B.11.31. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual system behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory management, particularly those involving buffer overflows and memory corruption that can lead to denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under privilege escalation techniques, specifically those involving kernel-level exploits that allow local users to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing comprehensive system monitoring to detect anomalous kernel behavior and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure that all system components remain protected against similar vulnerabilities in the future.