CVE-2011-2331 in Intelligent Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in img.exe in HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted length value in an a packet that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow, possibly related to an "recv" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2331 represents a critical security flaw in HP Intelligent Management Center's img.exe component that exposes remote attackers to arbitrary code execution capabilities. This issue stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing network packets, specifically within the handling of receive buffer lengths. The vulnerability exists in the network communication layer of HP IMC, which is widely used for enterprise network management and monitoring purposes. The affected system processes incoming packets through a protocol that fails to properly validate or constrain integer values, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate packet structures and subsequently trigger memory corruption.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a specially malformed network packet with an oversized length field that causes integer overflow during processing. When the img.exe application attempts to allocate memory for the received data, the overflowed integer value results in insufficient memory allocation, leading to heap-based buffer overflow conditions. This memory corruption allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the running IMC service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network protocol level, enabling remote exploitation without requiring local system access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2331 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure data. Organizations using HP IMC for network management face significant risk since the vulnerability affects the core management functionality that typically runs with elevated privileges. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network perimeter. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target systems from outside the network boundary, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose their management systems to external networks or the internet.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch application from HP, as the vendor has released specific updates addressing the integer overflow condition in img.exe. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to IMC management interfaces, particularly limiting exposure to trusted internal networks only. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for anomalous packet structures and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their HP IMC deployments and consider implementing network access controls that limit which systems can communicate with the management center. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of how protocol-level flaws can lead to remote code execution through heap corruption techniques. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under initial access and execution phases, where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to establish persistent presence within target environments.