CVE-2012-6501 in PKI ActiveX control
Summary
by MITRE
The KillProcess method in the HP PKI ActiveX control (HPPKI.ocx) before 1.2.0.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kill process) via the partial or full name of a process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6501 affects the HP PKI ActiveX control component HPPKI.ocx version 1.2.0.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized process termination actions on affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the KillProcess method of the ActiveX control, which is designed to manage cryptographic operations and certificate management tasks within the HP PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) framework. The flaw manifests when the control accepts process names as parameters, allowing attackers to specify either partial or complete process identifiers to be terminated, thereby creating a denial of service condition that can disrupt legitimate system operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the KillProcess method, which directly accepts user-supplied process names without adequate sanitization or authorization checks. This design flaw allows arbitrary process termination by any remote attacker who can interact with the vulnerable ActiveX control, effectively bypassing normal operating system security mechanisms that typically restrict process manipulation to authorized users or processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because ActiveX controls are inherently trusted components within Internet Explorer environments, making them prime targets for exploitation in browser-based attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can result in significant disruption to system availability and service continuity, as attackers can terminate critical processes including system services, security applications, or legitimate user applications. The potential for cascading failures exists when essential system processes are terminated, potentially leading to complete system instability or requiring manual intervention to restore normal operations. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where HP PKI ActiveX controls are deployed for certificate management, digital signature validation, or secure communication protocols, creating widespread exposure across organizations that rely on these cryptographic services.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a specific instance of privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1489 technique for powering off systems, as well as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, since the exploitation involves executing commands through the vulnerable ActiveX interface. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling ActiveX controls in browser environments, updating to HP PKI ActiveX version 1.2.0.1 or later, and deploying network segmentation controls to limit access to systems running vulnerable components. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous process termination activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy ActiveX components that may remain in use within enterprise environments.