CVE-2010-2705 in Procurve Switch 1800-8g
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on the HP ProCurve 1800-24G switch with software PB.03.02 and earlier, and the ProCurve 1800-8G switch with software PA.03.02 and earlier, when SNMP is enabled, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2705 affects Hewlett Packard ProCurve 1800 series switches including the 1800-24G and 1800-8G models running specific firmware versions. This issue represents a significant security weakness in network infrastructure equipment that could potentially compromise sensitive network information. The vulnerability specifically manifests when SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) functionality is enabled on these switches, creating an attack surface that remote adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to confidential data. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability may involve multiple potential exploitation methods or that the exact technical details were not fully disclosed in the initial vulnerability report. This type of information disclosure vulnerability in network switches is particularly concerning because it can provide attackers with critical insights into network topology, device configurations, and potentially sensitive operational data that could be leveraged for further attacks.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and information protection mechanisms within the SNMP implementation of these specific switch models. When SNMP is enabled, the switch's management interface should properly authenticate and authorize access requests to prevent unauthorized information retrieval. However, the vulnerability indicates that this authorization process is flawed, allowing remote attackers to bypass normal security controls and extract sensitive data through unknown vectors that could include improper access control checks, insufficient input validation, or flawed privilege escalation mechanisms. The vulnerability affects firmware versions PB.03.02 and earlier for the 1800-24G model and PA.03.02 and earlier for the 1800-8G model, suggesting that these specific software releases contained security gaps in their SNMP handling code that were not addressed in subsequent updates. This represents a failure in the software development lifecycle where security considerations were not adequately implemented or tested in the affected firmware versions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure and could significantly compromise network security posture. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could obtain sensitive information such as network configuration details, device management credentials, routing information, and potentially other confidential data that would normally be restricted to authorized administrators. This information disclosure could enable attackers to map the network infrastructure, identify vulnerable components, and plan more sophisticated attacks against the organization's network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects network infrastructure equipment that serves as foundational elements of network security, meaning that compromising these switches could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to critical network resources. The potential for lateral movement within the network increases substantially when attackers have access to detailed network information, as they could use this intelligence to identify other vulnerable systems or plan targeted attacks against specific network segments.
Organizations utilizing affected HP ProCurve switches should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability and reduce the risk of exploitation. The primary recommended action is to upgrade to firmware versions that have been patched to address this specific vulnerability, as HP would have released updated software containing the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should also consider disabling SNMP functionality entirely if it is not required for network management operations, as this would eliminate the attack surface associated with the vulnerable protocol. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls around these switches can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while monitoring network traffic for suspicious SNMP activity can aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software security testing and the need for robust access control mechanisms in network infrastructure devices, particularly those handling sensitive management protocols like SNMP. Regular security assessments and firmware updates should be implemented as part of comprehensive network security management practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting critical infrastructure components.