CVE-2012-5968 in E585u-82
Summary
by MITRE
The Huawei E585 device does not validate the status of admin sessions, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive user information and the session ID, and modify data, by leveraging access to the LAN network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2024
The Huawei E585 device presents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2012-5968, which stems from insufficient validation of administrative session states within the device's network management interface. This flaw resides in the device's authentication and session management mechanisms, specifically failing to properly verify the administrative status of active sessions. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers gain access to the local area network where the device operates, exploiting the absence of proper session validation checks that should occur during administrative operations. The device's web-based management interface lacks adequate safeguards to ensure that only authenticated and authorized administrative users can perform sensitive operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to critical system functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging the device's network accessibility to establish connections and manipulate administrative sessions without proper authentication verification. Attackers can obtain sensitive user information including but not limited to administrative credentials, session identifiers, and potentially other confidential data stored within the device's memory. The session ID theft capability represents a particularly dangerous aspect of this vulnerability, as it enables attackers to impersonate legitimate administrative users and maintain persistent access to the device's management interface. This weakness allows for unauthorized modification of device configurations, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5968 extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating substantial risks for network security and data integrity. Organizations relying on Huawei E585 devices for network connectivity and management face potential compromise of their entire network infrastructure if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The device's role as a gateway or access point within network environments means that unauthorized access could lead to broader network infiltration, data exfiltration, and disruption of services. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and organizational networks where these devices are commonly deployed for broadband connectivity and wireless access management, potentially enabling attackers to gain control over critical network operations and user data.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper session management controls and authentication verification mechanisms within the device's web interface. Network administrators should ensure that all administrative sessions are properly validated and that session identifiers are securely generated and managed to prevent session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses inadequate session management, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these devices to unauthorized network access, while ensuring that any available firmware updates or patches are applied to address the underlying session validation flaws. Additionally, regular monitoring of network traffic and administrative access logs can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning of unauthorized access to the device's management interface.