Heap-based buffer overflow in OvWebHelp.exe in HP OpenView Network Node Manager (OV NNM) 7.01, 7.51, and 7.53 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long Topic parameter.
CVE-2009-4178
This CVE was only ever scored under CVSS v2.0. NVD CVSS v2.0 base 10.0 — v2 rates that HIGH (v2 bands: LOW 0.0–3.9 / MEDIUM 4.0–6.9 / HIGH 7.0–10.0; v2 has no CRITICAL band). Vector AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. CVSS v2 is an older, coarser metric than v3.1/v4.0 (no Scope, no User Interaction, no Attack Requirements), so it is not directly comparable to a v3 or v4 score. NVD has never re-scored this record under v3. EPSS predicts 74.0% exploitation probability in the next 30 days, which is reflected in EG Risk but does not lift the v2 base. Confidence: LOW.
- High exploitation likelihood — EPSS 74%
- Public exploit code is available (Metasploit, Exploit-DB (verified), epss top5pct, epss high, public exploit)
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v2.0 (legacy)
- 10.0HIGHNVD never assigned a CVSS v3 rating to this CVE
- EG Score
- 10.0(low)
- EG Risk
- 79(Track)EG Risk 79/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity100% × 45%Exploitation74% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 74%
- EPSS %ILE
- 99%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
December 10, 2009
Last Modified
April 23, 2026
References (14)
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://dvlabs.tippingpoint.com/advisory/TPTI-09-11
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01950877
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=126046355120442&w=2
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/508354/100/0/threaded
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37261
- hp-security-alert@hphttp://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37340
- hp-security-alert@hphttps://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/54659
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://dvlabs.tippingpoint.com/advisory/TPTI-09-11
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c01950877
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=126046355120442&w=2
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/508354/100/0/threaded
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37261
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/37340
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/54659
Weakness Classification(1)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 1× in last 7d / 6× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-08-25 13:43 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-08-19 16:58 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-08-15 01:24 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-08-06 13:41 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-30 16:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-26 13:39 UTCEG score recompute▲ 10.00
- 2026-07-25 14:12 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-24 14:12 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-23 14:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-23 01:00 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-07-23 00:37 UTCEG score recompute▼ 7.20
- 2026-07-23 00:04 UTCEG score recompute▲ 7.20
- 2026-07-22 21:43 UTCEG score recompute▼ 9.00
- 2026-07-22 14:03 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-07-06 02:19 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-30 14:21 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-30 14:21 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-29 13:40 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
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- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-20 22:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(3 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (1 Metasploit module) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Exploit-DBEDB-16792✓ verifiedFirst seen Nov 11, 2010
HP OpenView Network Node Manager (OV NNM) - 'OvWebHelp.exe' CGI Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-11974First seen Mar 30, 2010
HP OpenView Network Node Manager (OV NNM) - 'OvWebHelp.exe' CGI Topic Overflow
Open source ↗ - Metasploitexploit/windows/http/hp_nnm_ovwebhelp✓ verifiedFirst seen Dec 9, 2009
HP OpenView Network Node Manager OvWebHelp.exe CGI Buffer Overflow
Open source ↗
Related CVEs(same CWE)
Same CWE
10 shownCWE-119
- CVE-2003-0819EG 10.0EPSS p99HIGH
- CVE-2003-0903EG 10.0EPSS p98HIGH
- CVE-2003-1339EG 10.0EPSS p99HIGH
- CVE-2003-0095EG 10.0EPSS p96HIGH
- CVE-2002-2227EG 10.0HIGH
- CVE-2002-2248EG 10.0EPSS p93HIGH
- CVE-2002-2250EG 10.0EPSS p94HIGH
- CVE-2002-2251EG 10.0EPSS p93HIGH
- CVE-2002-2253EG 10.0EPSS p93HIGH
- CVE-2002-2257EG 10.0EPSS p92HIGH
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2009-4178?
When was CVE-2009-4178 disclosed?
Is CVE-2009-4178 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2009-4178?
Dependency Blast Radius
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