CVE-2012-3270 in Performance Insight
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Performance Insight 5.31, 5.40, and 5.41, when Sybase is used, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, modify data, or cause a denial of service via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-3269.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3270 represents a significant security weakness in HP Performance Insight versions 5.31, 5.40, and 5.41 when integrated with Sybase database systems. This unspecified flaw creates a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system through various attack vectors that remain undisclosed in the initial CVE description. The vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between HP Performance Insight and Sybase components, indicating a potential integration point where security controls may be insufficiently implemented. The affected versions suggest this issue persisted across multiple releases, indicating a fundamental architectural or implementation problem that was not adequately addressed through the version updates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a security weakness that enables attackers to perform three distinct types of malicious activities including information disclosure, data modification, and denial of service operations. This multi-faceted attack capability demonstrates the severity of the flaw, as it provides adversaries with comprehensive control over the affected system's operations. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may involve multiple attack surfaces or could be a complex issue that affects various system components. The fact that this vulnerability differs from CVE-2012-3269 indicates that it represents a separate security flaw that requires distinct mitigation approaches, potentially affecting different system modules or processes within the HP Performance Insight framework.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2012-3270 extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially disrupt business operations through denial of service attacks. Organizations relying on HP Performance Insight for monitoring and managing their Sybase database environments face significant risk of unauthorized access to performance data, which could include sensitive business metrics, system configurations, or operational parameters. The ability to modify data within the system creates additional risks of data integrity compromise, potentially leading to incorrect performance assessments or operational decisions based on manipulated information. The denial of service component threatens system availability, which could impact monitoring capabilities and overall operational efficiency, particularly in mission-critical environments where continuous performance tracking is essential.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) framework, where such unspecified flaws typically map to weaknesses related to information exposure or insufficient input validation. The ATT&CK (Attack Tree) methodology would categorize this vulnerability under the initial access and privilege escalation domains, as attackers could potentially use it to establish persistent access or gain elevated privileges within the system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to the affected systems, regular patching of HP Performance Insight components, and enhanced monitoring for unusual access patterns or data modifications. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions suggests that organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their HP Performance Insight deployments to identify all affected systems and ensure proper security controls are implemented. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms can help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts.