CVE-2011-4157 in SAN
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in hydra.exe in HP SAN/iQ before 9.5 on the HP StorageWorks P4000 Virtual SAN Appliance allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted login request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4157 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in the hydra.exe component of HP SAN/iQ software versions prior to 9.5. This issue specifically affects the HP StorageWorks P4000 Virtual SAN Appliance, which is a widely deployed storage virtualization solution used in enterprise environments. The vulnerability resides within the authentication handling mechanism of the software, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw is particularly concerning because it enables remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise storage infrastructure. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability maps directly to stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector involves sending a specially crafted login request to the affected system, which triggers the buffer overflow during the authentication process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the hydra.exe process receives a malformed login request containing excessive input data that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack. This overflow corrupts the stack memory, potentially overwriting return addresses and other critical control data structures. Attackers can leverage this condition to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the hydra.exe process, which typically runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from any location on the network without requiring physical access or prior authentication. The attack follows the typical exploitation pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where the attacker leverages a software vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. The compromised system would then allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the storage appliance, potentially leading to data exfiltration, storage corruption, or use as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4157 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass significant risks for enterprise storage environments. Storage appliances serve as critical infrastructure components that often contain sensitive organizational data, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the storage virtualization platform, potentially affecting multiple virtual machines or storage volumes managed by the appliance. The vulnerability affects organizations using HP StorageWorks P4000 Virtual SAN Appliance deployments, which are commonly found in data centers and enterprise environments where storage virtualization is implemented. Organizations may experience service disruption, data loss, or unauthorized access to critical storage resources. The vulnerability's presence in the authentication layer means that attackers could potentially bypass access controls and gain administrative privileges over the storage infrastructure. This represents a severe risk for compliance and security posture, particularly in regulated environments where unauthorized access to storage systems could violate data protection requirements and industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 or ISO 27001 frameworks. The exploitation of this vulnerability could also lead to cascading security issues if the compromised storage appliance serves as a foundation for other systems or if it provides access to interconnected storage networks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, network segmentation to limit access to storage management interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts.