CVE-2014-9696 in Tecal E9000 Chassis
Summary
by MITRE
The Hyper Module Management (HMM) software of Huawei Tecal E9000 Chassis V100R001C00SPC160 and earlier versions allows the operator to modify the user configuration of iMana through privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9696 affects Huawei Tecal E9000 Chassis V100R001C00SPC160 and earlier versions, specifically within the Hyper Module Management (HMM) software component. This issue represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the security model of the system by allowing unauthorized operators to modify user configurations through the iMana management interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and authentication mechanisms within the HMM software, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain elevated privileges beyond their intended operational scope.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper authorization checks when processing configuration modification requests through the iMana interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute unauthorized changes to user accounts and system configurations without proper authentication or administrative privileges. This vulnerability operates at the application level and directly impacts the integrity of the system's user management framework, potentially enabling attackers to create malicious user accounts, modify existing user permissions, or completely compromise the management interface. The issue is classified under CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, which specifically addresses weaknesses in privilege control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modifications, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of the entire Huawei Tecal E9000 chassis deployment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain persistent access to the management interface, establish backdoor accounts, or manipulate system configurations to facilitate further attacks. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation, where adversaries leverage system vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions. The compromised system could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within the network, as the attacker would have access to sensitive management functions and potentially access to other connected systems.
Organizations utilizing affected Huawei Tecal E9000 chassis should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the affected systems. Additional protective measures include enforcing strict access controls for iMana interfaces, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify similar privilege escalation weaknesses in other management interfaces and system components. System administrators should consider implementing network monitoring solutions specifically designed to detect anomalous access patterns and configuration modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts.