Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects SUSE kdump when it sends crash dump data to a remote server over OpenSSH without properly verifying the server’s host key. A malicious remote kdump server could impersonate the legitimate target and receive sensitive core dump files, which may contain secrets, memory contents, and operational data.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted confidentiality risk for legacy SUSE crash dump workflows, not a broad internet emergency. Prioritize systems that collect remote crash dumps from sensitive servers, because core files can expose credentials, keys, memory contents, and incident data.
Technical view
CVE-2011-4190 is a SUSE-specific kdump/mkdumprd OpenSSH integration weakness before version 2012-01-20. Missing host key verification allows server impersonation in the dump transfer path. The CVSS 3.0 score is 5.9, driven by network reachability, high attack complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on older SUSE systems using kdump with remote crash dump collection over OpenSSH. Systems not using remote kdump transfer are less likely to be affected. The source bundle does not provide precise SUSE product releases, package build numbers, or configuration prevalence.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not indicate active exploitation, and KEV status is false. Practical exploitation depends on the attacker being able to impersonate or present as the configured kdump server during crash dump transfer, which explains the high attack complexity rating.
Researcher notes
The record links this issue to CVE-2011-3588 conceptually but states the implementation is SUSE-specific. Evidence is limited to the CVE description, SUSE advisory reference, and SUSE Bugzilla link. No public source in the bundle confirms exploitation or detailed affected release matrices.
Mitigation direction
- Review SUSE guidance for CVE-2011-4190 and applicable package updates.
- Update kdump to a fixed version, including 2012-01-20 or later where applicable.
- Identify and restrict remote kdump transfer paths until fixed.
- Confirm OpenSSH host key verification is enforced for kdump targets.
- Protect stored crash dumps as sensitive data.
Validation and detection
- Inventory SUSE hosts running kdump or mkdumprd.
- Check whether kdump sends crash dumps to remote OpenSSH servers.
- Verify installed kdump versions against SUSE advisory guidance.
- Confirm the configured kdump server host key is validated.
- Review crash dump handling for sensitive data exposure.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-306: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2011-4190 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.9 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N2.23.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
5.9MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2011-4190/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=722440CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Missing Authentication for Critical Function represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.