CVE-2011-1849 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
tftpserver.exe in HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) 5.0 before E0101L02 allows remote attackers to create or overwrite files, and subsequently execute arbitrary code, via a crafted WRQ request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1849 affects the tftpserver.exe component within HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) version 5.0 prior to E0101L02. This represents a critical security flaw that exists within the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server implementation used by HP's network management solution. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the TFTP server functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized remote code execution through malicious file operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specially crafted Write Request (WRQ) packet sent to the vulnerable TFTP server. When the server processes this malformed request, it fails to properly validate the filename parameter and directory traversal controls, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths and overwrite existing files on the system. This flaw directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The vulnerability enables attackers to place malicious files in critical system directories, potentially leading to privilege escalation and full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file manipulation capabilities, as it provides attackers with a persistent means of executing arbitrary code on the target system. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to upload malicious binaries, backdoors, or other payloads that can establish persistent access to the compromised IMC server. This represents a significant risk to enterprise network management infrastructure, as the IMC platform typically serves as a central management point for network devices and may contain sensitive configuration data, credentials, and operational information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that TFTP servers are often deployed in network environments where they are expected to be accessible from multiple network segments.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through the use of TFTP for payload delivery and execution. The attack chain typically involves initial reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable IMC installation, followed by crafting of malicious WRQ requests that can be delivered without authentication. The exploitation process is relatively straightforward, requiring only basic network connectivity and TFTP client tools. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability, particularly in environments where TFTP services are not strictly required. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and patch management, as HP released fixes for this issue in subsequent E0101L02 and later releases of the IMC platform. The incident underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of network management tools and the critical importance of validating file operations in server implementations that handle user-supplied data.