CVE-2011-4158 in Directories Support for ProLiant Management Processors
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Directories Support for ProLiant Management Processors 3.10 and 3.20 for Integrated Lights-Out iLO2 and iLO3 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4158 affects HP Directories Support for ProLiant Management Processors version 3.10 and 3.20, specifically targeting Integrated Lights-Out iLO2 and iLO3 management processors. This issue represents a security weakness within HP's server management infrastructure that could potentially expose sensitive system information to authenticated attackers who are already positioned within the network environment. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the exact technical mechanism enabling information disclosure remains unclear, though the classification indicates a significant security risk that requires immediate attention from system administrators and security professionals.
The technical flaw manifests within the management processor's handling of directory services and authentication processes, where insufficient access controls or improper information flow management allows authenticated users to extract sensitive data that should remain protected. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of system management and information security, where the management processor's directory support functionality fails to adequately restrict access to sensitive information that may include user credentials, system configurations, or other privileged data. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gather intelligence that could facilitate further exploitation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to enterprise environments that rely heavily on HP ProLiant servers with integrated Lights-Out management capabilities. The fact that the attack requires only authenticated access means that the vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised legitimate users with access credentials. The information disclosure could enable attackers to gain insights into system configurations, user account structures, or other sensitive operational data that would significantly aid in planning more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using affected versions of the management processor may find their security posture weakened, particularly in environments where privileged access is widely distributed or where access controls are not properly enforced.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest available versions of HP Directories Support for ProLiant Management Processors, which likely contain patches addressing the information disclosure vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or access attempts to management interfaces, while strict access control policies must be enforced to limit who can authenticate to these management processors. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and could potentially support techniques categorized under ATT&CK tactics such as credential access and discovery, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing security frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 or ISO 27001 compliance measures. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for directory service access patterns and ensure that proper incident response procedures are in place to address potential exploitation attempts.