CVE-2016-4360 in LoadRunner
Summary
by MITRE
HPE LoadRunner 11.52 through patch 3, 12.00 through patch 1, 12.01 through patch 3, 12.02 through patch 2, and 12.50 through patch 3 and Performance Center 11.52 through patch 3, 12.00 through patch 1, 12.01 through patch 3, 12.20 through patch 2, and 12.50 through patch 1 allow remote attackers to modify data or cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors, aka ZDI-CAN-3555.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4360 represents a critical security flaw affecting HPE LoadRunner and Performance Center software versions across multiple release streams. This issue was catalogued under the ZDI-CAN-3555 identifier and affects a broad range of products including LoadRunner 11.52 through patch 3, 12.00 through patch 1, 12.01 through patch 3, 12.02 through patch 2, and 12.50 through patch 3, alongside Performance Center versions with corresponding patch levels. The vulnerability stems from unspecified vectors that enable remote attackers to manipulate system data or disrupt service availability, creating significant operational risks for organizations relying on these performance testing platforms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in its ability to permit unauthorized modification of data within the target systems, potentially allowing attackers to alter test configurations, performance metrics, or other critical operational parameters. Additionally, the flaw can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions, which may result in complete system unavailability or degradation of service quality. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack pathways including but not limited to input validation issues, improper access controls, or buffer manipulation techniques that are commonly found in performance testing software environments. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of data integrity and availability threats that can severely impact the reliability of performance testing operations.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2016-4360 extends beyond simple data modification or service disruption. Organizations using these platforms for critical performance testing and load simulation may face serious consequences including compromised test results, invalid performance baselines, and potential exposure of sensitive system information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need not have physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these tools are commonly deployed. This represents a significant concern for enterprises that depend on accurate performance data for system optimization, capacity planning, and compliance verification activities. The attack surface is further expanded due to the widespread adoption of HPE LoadRunner and Performance Center across various industries including finance, healthcare, and telecommunications where system reliability is paramount.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework where it may map to techniques involving data manipulation and denial of service operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE categories related to input validation and access control failures, specifically CWE-20 for improper input validation and CWE-284 for improper access control. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems following the vendor's security advisories and implementation of network segmentation controls to limit potential attack vectors. Additional mitigations include monitoring for anomalous data modification patterns, implementing robust access controls for performance testing environments, and establishing incident response procedures specifically addressing data integrity violations in performance testing platforms. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for specialized software tools and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of operational technology environments beyond traditional application security measures.