CVE-2011-1534 in Network Node Manager i
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Network Node Manager i (NNMi) 9.0x allows remote authenticated users to obtain access to processes via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1534 resides within HP Network Node Manager i version 9.0x, a network management software solution designed to monitor and manage network infrastructure components. This unspecified security flaw represents a critical weakness in the authentication and process access controls of the system, potentially enabling malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to underlying system processes. The vulnerability specifically affects remote authenticated users, meaning that an attacker must first establish valid credentials to exploit this weakness, though the exact mechanism remains undisclosed in the CVE description.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of unauthorized access or privilege escalation, where legitimate users with valid authentication credentials can leverage unknown vectors to access processes that should remain restricted. This type of vulnerability typically stems from inadequate input validation, improper access control mechanisms, or flawed privilege management within the application's architecture. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the exact technical implementation details may be proprietary or not fully disclosed, but it indicates a fundamental weakness in the software's security model that could allow for process-level access bypass.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure management systems, as it could enable attackers to gain access to sensitive network monitoring processes that might contain confidential information about network topology, device configurations, or operational data. The impact extends beyond simple data access, as process-level access could potentially allow for system manipulation, data corruption, or service disruption. Organizations relying on HP NNMi for critical network monitoring operations face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks that could compromise their entire network management infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how authentication mechanisms can be bypassed to achieve unauthorized system access. From an adversary perspective, this weakness could be exploited through techniques categorized under ATT&CK matrix domain of Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion, where attackers might leverage legitimate credentials to access system processes that should remain protected. The risk is particularly concerning given that HP NNMi is often deployed in enterprise environments where it manages critical network infrastructure components, making it an attractive target for both internal and external threat actors seeking to gain deeper access to network operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive credential management practices, regular security assessments of network management systems, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, monitoring for unusual process access patterns and implementing robust audit trails can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting thorough security reviews of network management infrastructure components, particularly those that handle privileged system access. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of network management systems should be prioritized to identify similar weaknesses that could be exploited through various attack vectors.