CVE-2015-1460 in Quidway
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei Quidway switches with firmware before V200R005C00SPC300 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted packet.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1460 affects Huawei Quidway series network switches operating with firmware versions prior to V200R005C00SPC300. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions against affected network infrastructure. The vulnerability resides within the switch's packet processing mechanisms and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the device's access control implementation. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in network environments where switches serve as core infrastructure components managing traffic flow and security policies across enterprise networks.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of incoming network packets that contain crafted malicious payloads designed to exploit weaknesses in the switch's authentication and authorization processes. When these specially crafted packets are received by the vulnerable switch, they trigger an unintended code execution path that elevates the attacker's privileges from standard user level to administrative access. This occurs without requiring any legitimate credentials or physical access to the device, making the vulnerability particularly severe from a security perspective. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which categorizes permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and specifically relates to improper privilege management within network infrastructure devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access. Once an attacker gains administrative privileges on a Quidway switch, they can manipulate network traffic flows, redirect communications, modify routing tables, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This capability allows for advanced persistent threats that can remain undetected while compromising network integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability affects the core network security posture of organizations relying on Huawei switches, as these devices often serve as critical points of control within network architectures. Attackers can leverage this privilege escalation to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, perform network reconnaissance, or establish command and control channels that bypass traditional network security controls.
Organizations should immediately implement firmware updates to V200R005C00SPC300 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing robust network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used to establish persistence within network environments, making it a significant concern for cybersecurity teams responsible for protecting enterprise network infrastructure.