CVE-2016-4371 in Service Manager Software
Summary
by MITRE
HP Service Manager Software 9.30, 9.31, 9.32, 9.33, 9.34, 9.35, 9.40, and 9.41 allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information, modify data, and conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks via unspecified vectors, related to the Server, Web Client, Windows Client, and Service Request components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4371 affects HP Service Manager Software across multiple versions including 9.30 through 9.41, representing a critical security flaw that impacts the Server, Web Client, Windows Client, and Service Request components. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's architecture, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers. The flaw enables malicious actors to perform unauthorized operations that compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper sanitization of user inputs that flow through various components of the HP Service Manager ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information from the system, modify critical data records, and execute server-side request forgery attacks that can potentially allow them to access internal network resources that would otherwise be protected by firewalls or network segmentation. The SSRF component specifically allows attackers to manipulate the application's ability to make outbound requests to arbitrary servers, potentially enabling them to probe internal systems or exfiltrate data through the compromised service manager instance.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4371 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate their privileges within the system and potentially move laterally across the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates several security principles including the principle of least privilege and data integrity protection, as unauthorized modifications can occur without proper authorization checks. The affected components span across multiple deployment scenarios including web interfaces, client applications, and server-side processing modules, making the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to fully secure.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-918 (Server-Side Request Forgery) as identified in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack pattern closely follows techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1071.004 sub-technique for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols and T1046 for Network Service Scanning. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated attack means that successful exploitation requires minimal privileges but can lead to substantial compromise of the entire service management infrastructure.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4371 include immediate application of vendor security patches and updates, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to service manager components, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their service manager deployments to identify and remediate any additional configuration vulnerabilities that could compound the risk. Regular monitoring of system logs for unusual patterns of data access or modification attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management within the service manager environment will limit the potential damage from successful attacks, while regular security training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might lead to credential compromise.