CVE-2011-1220: IBM Tivoli Endpoint lcfd.exe stack buffer overflow via opts field

Automated analysis

Generated by VULONE's analysis model from the NVD record, CISA KEV and EPSS data on 19 September 2026. Confidence: medium.

high priorityCVSS 2.0 base score of 9.0 with network reachability and full impact, tempered only by the authentication requirement and the age of the affected product.

What it is

A stack-based buffer overflow exists in lcfd.exe in IBM Tivoli Endpoint, part of Tivoli Management Framework 3.7.1, 4.1, 4.1.1 and 4.3.1. A remote authenticated user can supply an oversized opts field to overwrite stack memory and execute arbitrary code. The flaw is rated 9.0 (HIGH) under CVSS 2.0 and affects a core management component, so it matters for any environment still running these end-of-life versions.

Impact

Successful exploitation gives the attacker arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the lcfd.exe process, typically full compromise of confidentiality, integrity and availability on the endpoint. Because the component is part of the management framework, a compromised endpoint can serve as a foothold into managed infrastructure.

Attack surface

The vector is network-reachable (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires the attacker to be authenticated (Au:S). No user interaction is indicated by the description or vector; the attack is delivered by sending a crafted opts field to the lcfd.exe service.

Exploitation

CVE-2011-1220 is not listed in CISA KEV and no ransomware usage is documented. EPSS is high (0.62663, 99.155th percentile), and references include a Zero Day Initiative advisory (ZDI-11-169) plus vendor advisories, indicating public technical detail exists, but the record does not confirm an in-the-wild exploit.

What to do

• Upgrade or migrate off the affected Tivoli Management Framework versions (3.7.1, 4.1, 4.1.1, 4.3.1) to a supported release per IBM advisories swg21499146 and swg1IZ90238.
• If upgrade is not immediately possible, restrict network access to the lcfd.exe listener to trusted management hosts only.
• Enforce least privilege and strong authentication for accounts that can reach the endpoint service, since exploitation requires authentication.
• Monitor IBM advisories and apply any vendor-supplied interim fix or workaround for the opts field handling.
• Retire or isolate end-of-life Tivoli Management Framework deployments that cannot be patched.

Detection

• Monitor lcfd.exe for crashes or abnormal process termination that could indicate a failed overflow attempt.
• Inspect network traffic to the lcfd service for unusually long or malformed opts field values.
• Alert on unexpected child processes or command execution spawned by lcfd.exe.
• Audit authentication logs for unusual or unexpected accounts interacting with the Tivoli endpoint service.

This assessment is produced automatically and is not human-reviewed. Verify against the vendor advisory before acting on it.