CVE-2011-1854 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) 5.0 before E0101L02 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long syslog packet, related to an exception handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1854 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within HP Intelligent Management Center version 5.0 before E0101L02. This issue resides in the system's handling of syslog packets and specifically affects the exception handling mechanisms that process incoming network data. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers. The flaw manifests when the system receives a specially crafted syslog packet that exceeds normal length parameters, triggering an exception handler that fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation sequences. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category for use-after-free conditions, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has historically led to numerous remote code execution exploits in network services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it provides attackers with a pathway for remote code execution within the targeted HP IMC environment. Attackers can leverage this flaw by sending a maliciously constructed syslog packet that triggers the vulnerable exception handler, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the IMC service account. This capability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the management center, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure that the IMC system manages. The remote nature of this attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on centralized network management solutions. The vulnerability's exploitation directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation would likely result in elevated system privileges and persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1854 should prioritize immediate patching of affected HP IMC installations to the latest available security updates from HP. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the IMC system to untrusted networks, while also monitoring for suspicious syslog traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect and block malformed syslog packets that exceed normal size thresholds, as this can serve as an effective defensive measure against exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict syslog traffic to only trusted sources can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that all systems remain protected against similar memory safety issues. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure operational stability while addressing the identified memory management flaw that could be exploited for remote code execution.