CVE-2012-2328 in openSUSE
Summary
by MITRE
internal/cimxml/sax/NodeFactory.java in Standards-Based Linux Instrumentation for Manageability (SBLIM) Common Information Model (CIM) Client (aka sblim-cim-client2) before 2.1.12 computes hash values without restricting the ability to trigger hash collisions predictably, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a crafted XML file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2328 affects the SBLIM CIM Client implementation, specifically within the internal/cimxml/sax/NodeFactory.java component that handles XML parsing operations. This flaw resides in the Standards-Based Linux Instrumentation for Manageability framework, which provides CIM client capabilities for managing and monitoring enterprise systems. The vulnerability manifests in the hash table implementation where hash values are computed without adequate collision resistance mechanisms, creating a predictable weakness in the system's hash computation algorithm. This particular implementation of the CIM client is used extensively in enterprise environments for system management and monitoring purposes, making it a critical component in IT infrastructure operations.
The technical flaw stems from the hash computation process within the XML parsing functionality where the NodeFactory component processes CIM XML documents. When processing crafted XML files, attackers can deliberately construct input data that causes hash collisions in the underlying hash table implementation. This predictable collision behavior allows malicious actors to exploit the system's hash table structure by feeding it specially crafted XML content that forces the hash table to degrade from optimal O(1) performance to O(n) behavior, where n represents the number of elements in the hash table. The vulnerability is context-dependent because it requires specific XML structures that can be constructed to trigger the collision conditions, making it more sophisticated than simple denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables context-dependent attackers to perform a denial of service attack that consumes excessive CPU resources. When the malicious XML file is processed, the hash table becomes overwhelmed with collisions, causing the system to spend disproportionate amounts of time resolving hash conflicts instead of performing legitimate processing tasks. This results in substantial CPU consumption and can effectively render the system unresponsive or severely degraded in performance. The attack is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where CIM clients are continuously processing management data from multiple sources, as a single malicious XML document can cause cascading performance issues across the entire monitoring infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2328 should focus on updating to the patched version 2.1.12 or later of the SBLIM CIM Client library where the hash computation has been properly secured against predictable collision attacks. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all XML processing components, particularly those handling CIM management data. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure to potentially malicious XML content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which describes insufficient entropy in a cryptographic hash function, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for resource exhaustion attacks. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual CPU consumption patterns and hash table performance degradation that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and input size restrictions for XML processing operations provides defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system.