CVE-2012-5216 in ProCurve 1700
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability on HP ProCurve 1700-8 (aka J9079A) switches with software before VA.02.09 and 1700-24 (aka J9080A) switches with software before VB.02.09 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2017
The CVE-2012-5216 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting HP ProCurve 1700 series network switches, specifically the 1700-8 (J9079A) and 1700-24 (J9080A) models. This vulnerability exists in firmware versions prior to VA.02.09 for the 1700-8 model and VB.02.09 for the 1700-24 model, creating a significant security risk for enterprise network infrastructure. The flaw allows remote attackers to hijack user sessions and authenticate as legitimate users without requiring valid credentials, potentially enabling unauthorized access to network management functions. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that leverage the fundamental weakness in how the switches handle authentication tokens and session management, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on these devices for critical infrastructure control.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms within the web-based management interface of affected HP ProCurve switches. The switches fail to validate the origin of HTTP requests or implement token-based authentication checks that would prevent malicious actors from crafting forged requests that appear to originate from authenticated users. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications and network devices. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions such as changing network configurations, modifying user accounts, or accessing sensitive network data without proper authorization, effectively compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete network compromise and potential data exfiltration. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain persistent access to network management interfaces, modify firewall rules, alter routing configurations, or disable critical network services. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the switches or network proximity, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising both confidentiality through unauthorized data access and integrity through unauthorized configuration changes, while also potentially affecting availability through malicious configuration modifications that could disrupt network services.
Organizations should immediately implement firmware updates to address this vulnerability, with HP releasing patches for the affected firmware versions. The recommended mitigation strategy includes updating all affected HP ProCurve 1700 series switches to the latest available firmware versions that include proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, restricting access to management ports through firewall rules, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious authentication patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in network infrastructure devices, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in network infrastructure. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected network equipment and implement comprehensive patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their network infrastructure.