CVE-2011-4163 in Database Archiving Software
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Database Archiving Software 6.31 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-1213.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4163 represents a critical security flaw within HP Database Archiving Software version 6.31 that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This unspecified vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The issue was disclosed through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under the CAN number 1213, indicating that it was a previously unknown vulnerability that required immediate attention from the security community. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the underlying technical flaw could manifest through multiple attack pathways, making it particularly dangerous and difficult to defend against completely.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to stem from insufficient input validation or improper handling of user-supplied data within the database archiving software components. Attackers can leverage this weakness through remote network connections to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected application. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions or injection flaws that allow attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow. The software's handling of database archiving operations likely creates opportunities for malicious input to be processed without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to craft payloads that trigger the vulnerability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on HP Database Archiving Software for their data management infrastructure. Remote code execution capabilities allow attackers to establish persistent access to target systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and lateral movement within network environments. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise as attackers can use the executed code to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive information, or deploy additional malware. Organizations with database archiving systems running vulnerable versions face potential regulatory compliance violations and significant financial losses due to data exposure and system downtime.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4163 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems through HP's security updates and service packs. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to database archiving services only to trusted sources. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar weaknesses in other software components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited scope and ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and script interpreter execution. Organizations should also implement application whitelisting policies and monitor network traffic for suspicious patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the remote nature of the attack vector, continuous network monitoring and intrusion detection systems become critical defensive measures to detect and prevent exploitation activities.