CVE-2013-6852 in 2620 Switch
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in html/json.html on HP 2620 switches allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that change an administrative password via the setPassword method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The CVE-2013-6852 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in HP 2620 series network switches, specifically within the html/json.html component. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized administrative control. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it targets the authentication mechanism of network infrastructure devices, which are fundamental to enterprise network security operations and typically require elevated privileges for configuration changes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the web interface. When administrators access the switch's management interface to perform administrative tasks such as changing passwords, the setPassword method does not adequately verify that the request originates from an authenticated administrator session. This absence of proper session validation allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or exploit existing network vulnerabilities to trick authenticated administrators into executing unauthorized password change requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the html/json.html file which serves as the communication interface between the web management GUI and the switch's backend authentication system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of networks relying on HP 2620 switches. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can completely compromise administrative access to the network switch, potentially leading to complete network disruption, data interception, or unauthorized network access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no local access or credentials to initiate, making it a classic remote code execution threat against network infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that should be implemented in all network management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of firmware updates from HP, which would address the underlying CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting web management access to specific IP ranges, disabling unnecessary web interfaces, and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The remediation process should follow ATT&CK framework recommendations for network infrastructure protection, specifically focusing on maintaining secure network device configurations and implementing proper access controls. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous administrative activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability creates a persistent risk that requires ongoing vigilance and security monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure components.