CVE-2014-2624 in Network Node Manager i
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Network Node Manager i (NNMi) 9.0x, 9.1x, and 9.2x allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-2264.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2624 represents a critical security flaw within HP Network Node Manager i (NNMi) versions 9.0x through 9.2x, constituting a remote code execution vulnerability that poses significant operational risks to enterprise network infrastructure. This unspecified weakness in the network management platform creates a potential attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The vulnerability's classification as remote code execution indicates that attackers do not require physical access or local credentials to compromise the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where such tools are commonly deployed. The issue was catalogued under the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) as CAN-2264, highlighting its severity and the potential for widespread impact across organizations relying on HP NNMi for network monitoring and management.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in its unspecified attack vectors, which suggests that the flaw exists within the application's processing of inputs or handling of network requests without clear documentation of the specific mechanism. This ambiguity typically indicates a deep-seated issue in the software's architecture that could stem from improper input validation, buffer overflows, or memory corruption vulnerabilities within the NNMi application stack. The vulnerability's designation as remote code execution means that an attacker could potentially inject and execute malicious code on the target system, potentially leading to full system compromise. Such vulnerabilities often originate from weaknesses in the application's network services or web interfaces that process external data without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The lack of specific details about the attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against, as security teams must implement broad protective measures rather than targeted fixes.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2624 extends beyond simple system compromise to encompass potential disruption of critical network operations and data breaches. Organizations using HP NNMi for network monitoring and management face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to view, modify, or delete network configurations and device information. The vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the network, making it difficult to detect and remove malicious activity. This risk is compounded by the fact that network node managers often have elevated privileges and access to critical network components, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their privileges and gain access to additional network resources. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of network management operations, potentially leading to service disruptions, unauthorized network modifications, and exposure of sensitive network information. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target these systems from anywhere on the internet, significantly expanding the potential threat surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2624 should focus on immediate defensive measures while awaiting official patches from HP. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected NNMi systems from critical network infrastructure, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Network access control lists and firewalls should be configured to restrict access to NNMi services to only trusted network segments and IP addresses. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns or known exploit signatures. Security teams should also conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses weaknesses in memory management, and represents a classic example of a remote code execution vulnerability that could be exploited through various attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unauthorized code execution attempts. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation would likely involve executing malicious commands on the compromised system. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enhanced to ensure rapid deployment of vendor-provided fixes once available, while maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to detect any signs of exploitation attempts.