CVE-2016-1000215 in H500
Summary
by MITRE
Ruckus Wireless H500 web management interface denial of service
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2019
The CVE-2016-1000215 vulnerability affects Ruckus Wireless H500 access points and represents a critical denial of service condition within the web management interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms in the device's web server implementation, specifically when processing HTTP requests containing malformed or excessively long parameter values. The affected device fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the management interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to disrupt normal device operations.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of HTTP request parameters within the web management interface of the H500 device. When the web server receives requests containing specially crafted or oversized parameter values, the parsing logic does not adequately validate or limit input size, leading to buffer overflow conditions or resource exhaustion scenarios. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically CWE-129 which addresses improper validation of array indices and buffer bounds. The flaw exists in the device's embedded web server component that handles administrative requests, making it accessible over the network to any remote attacker with basic network connectivity to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render the entire wireless access point non-functional and inaccessible for administrative purposes. Network administrators lose the ability to manage the device through its web interface, requiring physical intervention or alternative management methods such as console access to restore functionality. This creates significant operational challenges in enterprise environments where multiple access points may be affected simultaneously, potentially leading to widespread network management issues and service degradation. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to maintain persistent denial of service conditions, as the device typically requires manual intervention or power cycling to recover from the exploited state, making it particularly dangerous in mission-critical environments where wireless connectivity is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass both immediate and long-term security measures to protect affected Ruckus Wireless H500 devices. Network administrators should implement immediate network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, utilizing firewall rules to restrict access to the web management interface to only trusted administrative networks. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates that address the input validation issues within the web server component. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect abnormal request patterns and excessive parameter lengths can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling the web management interface entirely if it is not required for operations, relying instead on secure console management or SNMP-based administration methods. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in embedded systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and emphasizing the need for robust security practices in IoT and network infrastructure devices.