CVE-2016-2013 in Network Node Manager i
Summary
by MITRE
HPE Network Node Manager i (NNMi) 9.20, 9.23, 9.24, 9.25, 10.00, and 10.01 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2022
HPE Network Node Manager i (NNMi) versions 9.20 through 10.01 contain a vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to access sensitive information through unspecified vectors. This vulnerability resides within the network management software that organizations use to monitor and manage their network infrastructure components. The affected versions represent a significant portion of the NNMi product line, indicating this issue impacts multiple generations of the software. The vulnerability specifically affects the information disclosure mechanism within the application's authentication and authorization framework, allowing attackers who have already established legitimate credentials to escalate their access privileges and extract confidential data.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient access control mechanism that fails to properly validate or restrict data access even after successful authentication. Attackers with valid user accounts can exploit this weakness to retrieve information that should be restricted to administrators or specific authorized personnel. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be present across multiple attack surfaces within the application, potentially including API endpoints, web interfaces, or internal data processing modules. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of information disclosure flaws that can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized data access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on network management systems for critical infrastructure monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to gather intelligence about network topology, device configurations, user permissions, and system vulnerabilities. Organizations using affected NNMi versions face potential risks including unauthorized access to network monitoring data, exposure of sensitive operational information, and potential compromise of network security posture. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple major releases of the software, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the application's architecture rather than a localized issue. This type of information disclosure vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as the leaked data can be used for further reconnaissance and targeting of other system components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by HPE to address this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security updates and conducting regular security assessments of network management systems. Organizations should also review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege for all network management accounts. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust security controls in network management applications, as these systems often contain sensitive information about an organization's entire network infrastructure. The incident underscores the necessity of following security frameworks such as those recommended by NIST and ISO 27001 for managing information security risks in enterprise environments.