CVE-2011-2608 in Operations Agent
Summary
by MITRE
ovbbccb.exe 6.20.50.0 and other versions in HP OpenView Performance Agent 4.70 and 5.0; and Operations Agent 11.0, 8.60.005, 8.60.006, 8.60.007, 8.60.008, 8.60.501, and 8.53; allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via a full pathname in the File field in a Register command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2608 represents a critical file deletion flaw within HP OpenView Performance Agent and Operations Agent software versions. This issue affects multiple iterations of HP's monitoring and management platforms, specifically targeting versions 4.70 and 5.0 of Performance Agent and 11.0, 8.60.005 through 8.60.501, and 8.53 of Operations Agent. The flaw manifests in the ovbbccb.exe component which processes Register commands containing file path specifications. This vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The security implications extend beyond simple file deletion as this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the file system of the affected systems through remote command execution.
The technical mechanism of exploitation involves sending a malicious Register command to the vulnerable HP OpenView agents with a specially crafted File field containing a full pathname. When the system processes this command, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the file path input, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file locations for deletion. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, as the system accepts user-supplied paths without adequate sanitization. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper access control mechanisms and input validation procedures that should prevent unauthorized file system operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to remove critical system files, configuration data, or log files that could compromise system integrity or availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate file deletion capabilities to encompass broader system compromise and service disruption. Organizations relying on HP OpenView for system monitoring and management face significant risks when this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers could target critical components of the monitoring infrastructure itself. The vulnerability could be used to disable monitoring capabilities, remove log files that would otherwise detect malicious activity, or delete essential configuration files that maintain system functionality. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004, which covers the deletion of system logs, and T1489, which addresses system shutdown/reboot attacks through manipulation of system services. The potential for cascading failures increases when considering that these agents often serve as critical components in enterprise monitoring ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2608 should focus on immediate patch application from HP, network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable agents, and implementation of strict input validation controls. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary agent functionality and implementing monitoring for unusual file deletion patterns in system logs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and input validation in enterprise monitoring systems, with recommendations aligning with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure system design. Additionally, implementing network access controls and restricting remote access to monitoring agents can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other enterprise systems and monitoring tools, as this class of vulnerability continues to be prevalent in enterprise software environments.