CVE-2012-6569 in S3700
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the HTTP module in the (1) Branch Intelligent Management System (BIMS) and (2) web management components on Huawei AR routers and S2000, S3000, S3500, S3900, S5100, S5600, S7800, and S8500 switches allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical stack-based buffer overflow located within the HTTP processing module of Huawei networking equipment, specifically affecting Branch Intelligent Management Systems on AR routers as well as web management interfaces across various S-series switch models including the S2000 through S8500 series. This flaw arises from insufficient boundary checking when parsing Uniform Resource Identifiers submitted to the device's administrative interface. When a remote attacker crafts and submits an HTTP request containing a URI with excessively long parameters, the application fails to validate the length of the input against the allocated buffer size on the call stack. Consequently, the excess data overwrites adjacent memory locations, including critical control structures such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption allows for arbitrary code execution under the context of the vulnerable service, typically granting the attacker elevated privileges equivalent to root or administrator access on the network device.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which highlights the failure to properly manage stack memory boundaries during input processing. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter via HTTP requests, as it enables an attacker to inject malicious commands directly into the device's operating environment without requiring prior authentication in many default configurations or through unauthenticated endpoints if exposed. The operational impact is severe, potentially leading to complete compromise of the network infrastructure. An adversary exploiting this flaw can install backdoors, pivot laterally across the internal network, exfiltrate sensitive configuration data, or disrupt service availability by crashing the management process. Given that these devices often serve as gateways between different network segments, compromising them provides a strategic foothold for advanced persistent threats to map and exploit further vulnerabilities within the enterprise environment.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching of the affected firmware versions provided by Huawei, which address the input validation logic in the HTTP module. In scenarios where patches cannot be applied immediately due to operational constraints or legacy system dependencies, network segmentation is essential to restrict access to the management interfaces from untrusted networks. Implementing strict firewall rules that limit administrative traffic to specific trusted IP addresses can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, deploying Intrusion Prevention Systems with signatures capable of detecting anomalous URI lengths and buffer overflow patterns in HTTP traffic provides a layer of defense-in-depth. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure compliance with industry standards such as CIS Benchmarks for network devices, which emphasize hardening administrative interfaces and disabling unnecessary services to minimize potential entry points for exploitation.