CVE-2013-2341 in Procurve Switch
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability on the HP ProCurve JC###A, JC###B, JD###A, JD###B, JE###A, JF###A, JF###B, JF###C, JG###A, 658250-B21, and 658247-B21; HP 3COM routers and switches; and HP H3C routers and switches allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code or obtain sensitive information via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2341 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple HP ProCurve and HP 3COM networking devices across various product lines including JC###A, JC###B, JD###A, JD###B, JE###A, JF###A, JF###B, JF###C, JG###A, 658250-B21, and 658247-B21 models. This vulnerability specifically impacts network infrastructure equipment that serves as fundamental components in enterprise networking environments, making it particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective. The affected devices operate at the network layer and are designed to manage traffic flow, security policies, and connectivity between different network segments, which means any compromise of these devices can have cascading effects throughout the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability is classified as a remote authenticated attack vector, meaning that an attacker who has already established legitimate network credentials can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the device's underlying system. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the context of privilege escalation and lateral movement within network environments, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1566 for credential harvesting.
The technical nature of this vulnerability remains unspecified in the public description, but based on the affected product lines and the reported attack vectors, it likely involves a combination of buffer overflow conditions, input validation failures, or authentication bypass mechanisms. These types of flaws typically arise from improper handling of network packets, configuration parameters, or management interface inputs that do not adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied data. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests that the exact technical mechanism has not been publicly disclosed, which is common in early vulnerability disclosures where vendors are still analyzing the full scope of the issue. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where network security is paramount, making the potential for exploitation particularly severe. When considering industry standards such as CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration), this vulnerability likely maps to CWE-119 for memory corruption issues or CWE-20 for input validation problems, both of which are common root causes for remote code execution vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to device management interfaces. Remote authenticated users who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected devices, which provides them with complete control over the network infrastructure. This level of access allows attackers to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors within the network environment. The ability to obtain sensitive information through this vulnerability means that attackers could potentially extract network credentials, configuration files, or other confidential data that would be stored on or accessible through these network devices. The implications for enterprise security are substantial, as these devices often serve as critical network control points that manage access between different network segments, firewall rules, and routing policies. The vulnerability affects multiple vendors within the HP ecosystem, indicating a potential design or implementation flaw that may be present across several generations of network equipment, increasing the overall attack surface and potential impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential for exploitation. Organizations should implement strict network access controls and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to network management interfaces. The affected devices should be updated with vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, which typically involves firmware updates that address the underlying vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around authentication events and unusual network configuration changes. The vulnerability's nature as a remote authenticated attack means that organizations should also review their network access policies and ensure that strong authentication mechanisms are in place, including multi-factor authentication where possible. Security teams should conduct thorough network audits to identify all affected devices and assess their exposure to this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include reviewing network segmentation policies to ensure that even if one device is compromised, the attacker cannot easily move laterally through the network infrastructure. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant opportunity for attackers to establish persistent access and move laterally within networks, making proactive defense measures essential for protecting enterprise environments from potential exploitation.