CVE-2011-1853 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
tftpserver.exe in HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) 5.0 before E0101L02 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a (1) large or (2) invalid opcode field, related to a function pointer table.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1853 affects the tftpserver.exe component within HP Intelligent Management Center version 5.0 before E0101L02, representing a critical remote code execution flaw that exploits a weakness in the Trivial File Transfer Protocol implementation. This vulnerability resides in the function pointer table mechanism that handles TFTP operations, creating a path for remote attackers to inject malicious code through carefully crafted TFTP packets. The flaw manifests when the server processes either a large opcode field or an invalid opcode field, both of which can trigger unexpected behavior in the function pointer resolution logic. This represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that has been classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the system fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them through the function pointer table. The TFTP protocol implementation in HP IMC does not adequately sanitize opcode values, allowing attackers to manipulate the control flow of the application by overwriting function pointers or executing arbitrary code in the context of the running service. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage remote access capabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The operational impact is severe as the affected HP IMC server typically runs with elevated privileges, providing attackers with potential access to sensitive network management functions and data. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain full control over the IMC server, potentially compromising the entire network management infrastructure that relies on this platform. The function pointer table mechanism in the TFTP server implementation creates a predictable attack surface where specific opcode values can cause the program to jump to unintended memory locations, leading to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where HP IMC is commonly deployed for network monitoring and management, as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure. The flaw demonstrates a failure in input validation and memory management practices, as the system does not properly check the bounds of opcode fields before using them to index into function pointer tables. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of the broader category of protocol implementation flaws that can lead to complete system compromise, particularly in management and monitoring platforms that handle sensitive network data. Organizations running affected versions of HP IMC should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to this vulnerability. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in network services, as the lack of proper bounds checking on opcode fields creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate program execution flow and achieve remote code execution. This represents a fundamental security issue in how the TFTP server component handles protocol parsing, emphasizing the need for robust error handling and memory safety practices in network infrastructure software. The attack vector requires only network access to the TFTP service, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials.