CVE-2011-4162 in Protecttools Device Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) AddUser, (2) AddUserEx, (3) RemoveUser, (4) RemoveUserByGuide, (5) RemoveUserEx, and (6) RemoveUserRegardless methods in HP Protect Tools Device Access Manager (PTDAM) before 6.1.0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via a long SidString argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4162 affects HP Protect Tools Device Access Manager version 6.1.0.1 and earlier, specifically targeting six distinct methods within the software architecture. This issue represents a critical heap memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited remotely by attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The affected methods include AddUser, AddUserEx, RemoveUser, RemoveUserByGuide, RemoveUserEx, and RemoveUserRegardless, all of which process SidString arguments without adequate input validation or boundary checking mechanisms.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of the SidString parameter passed to these methods, creating a classic buffer overflow condition in the heap memory management system. When a maliciously crafted SidString argument exceeds the allocated memory boundaries, it triggers heap corruption that can be leveraged by remote attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant weakness in the input sanitization and memory management practices of the PTDAM software. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system access or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of HP Protect Tools Device Access Manager, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on HP's device access management solutions, creating potential risks for data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges, as it requires no authentication or local access to the target system, making it a particularly attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to HP Protect Tools Device Access Manager version 6.1.0.1 or later, which contains patches addressing the heap memory corruption issues. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for exploitation attempts and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on target systems. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption issues in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.