CVE-2011-4160 in Operations Agent
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Operations Agent 11.00 and Performance Agent 4.73 and 5.0 on AIX, HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris allows local users to bypass intended directory-access restrictions via unknown vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4160 represents a significant security flaw in HP Operations Agent and Performance Agent software versions 11.00, 4.73, and 5.0 across multiple operating systems including AIX, HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris. This unspecified weakness in the agent software architecture creates a critical directory access bypass condition that could potentially allow local users to circumvent intended security controls and gain unauthorized access to restricted system directories. The vulnerability exists within the core file access control mechanisms of these monitoring agents, which are designed to provide system performance monitoring and operational insights while maintaining strict security boundaries. The affected platforms span across different Unix-based systems, indicating a widespread impact that extends beyond a single operating system environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate directory access controls within the HP agent implementations, where local users can exploit unknown vectors to bypass the intended security restrictions. This flaw operates at the privilege escalation level, allowing users who already have local access to the system to potentially elevate their privileges or access sensitive directories that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability's unspecified nature suggests that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, which is common in certain classes of access control bypass vulnerabilities where the precise exploitation technique is not publicly detailed. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement, where the agents should maintain strict boundaries between different system resources and user access levels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive system files, configuration data, or monitoring information that could be leveraged for further attacks. Local users who exploit this vulnerability could gain access to system logs, performance data, or other sensitive information that the agents are designed to protect. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations running any of the affected operating systems are at risk, regardless of their specific hardware architecture. This vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these agents are used for system monitoring and where the agents might have elevated privileges or access to sensitive system resources. The potential for privilege escalation through this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain deeper system access or access to other system components that are protected by the intended directory access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from HP, reviewing and tightening directory access controls for the affected agents, and implementing monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and could potentially be exploited through techniques related to privilege escalation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of agent installations and review the access permissions for agent processes to ensure that the affected software is not running with unnecessary privileges. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for anomalous access patterns could help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in system monitoring tools and highlights the need for regular security assessments of operational software components that have elevated system privileges.