CVE-2011-3168 in TCP-IP Services
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the POP and IMAP service implementations in HP TCP/IP Services 5.6 and 5.7 for OpenVMS allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3168 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the POP and IMAP service implementations of HP TCP/IP Services version 5.6 and 5.7 running on OpenVMS operating systems. This vulnerability exists within the core email service protocols that handle both post office protocol and internet message access protocol communications, which are fundamental components for email retrieval and management in enterprise environments. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that attackers can potentially exploit multiple pathways to access sensitive information without specific details about the exact technical mechanism being compromised. These email services are commonly deployed in mission-critical systems where confidentiality and data integrity are paramount, making such vulnerabilities particularly concerning for organizations relying on OpenVMS platforms for their computing infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in how the POP and IMAP implementations handle sensitive data processing and information flow within the HP TCP/IP Services framework. The vulnerability likely stems from improper input validation, insufficient access controls, or inadequate data sanitization mechanisms within the email protocol handlers. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to email content, user credentials, or other sensitive data transmitted through these protocols. The remote nature of the attack vector indicates that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-200 which encompasses "Information Exposure" and represents a fundamental breakdown in information security controls that can lead to unauthorized data access and potential compromise of entire email systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3168 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities and gather intelligence about organizational email infrastructure. Remote attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access email archives, user authentication details, or sensitive communication content that may contain confidential business information, personal data, or intellectual property. The implications for organizations using OpenVMS systems are significant as these platforms often serve as critical infrastructure components in government agencies, financial institutions, and other security-sensitive organizations. The vulnerability could facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential harvesting, social engineering campaigns, or targeted espionage operations that leverage the stolen email information to compromise additional system components. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers "Phishing" and related social engineering tactics that can be enhanced through information disclosure vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying available security patches from HP, implementing network segmentation to isolate email services, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious email protocol activity. Configuration hardening measures should focus on disabling unnecessary email service features, implementing strict access controls, and establishing monitoring procedures for unusual data access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for legacy systems and highlights the risks associated with running older versions of enterprise software. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected services and implement network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of email infrastructure and adherence to security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 should be maintained to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to ensure operational stability while addressing the information disclosure risk effectively.