CVE-2016-2404 in S5700
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei switches S5700, S6700, S7700, S9700 with software V200R001C00SPC300, V200R002C00SPC100, V200R003C00SPC300, V200R005C00SPC500, V200R006C00; S12700 with software V200R005C00SPC500, V200R006C00; ACU2 with software V200R005C00SPC500, V200R006C00 have a permission control vulnerability. If a switch enables Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) for permission control and user permissions are not appropriate, AAA users may obtain the virtual type terminal (VTY) access permission, resulting in privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
This vulnerability exists in Huawei networking equipment including S5700, S6700, S7700, S9700, and S12700 switches along with ACU2 devices running specific software versions. The flaw resides in the authentication, authorization, and accounting framework where improper permission configuration allows unauthorized users to gain virtual terminal access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user privileges within the AAA system, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks. According to CWE-269, this represents a weakness in privilege management where the system fails to properly enforce access controls. The issue specifically impacts network infrastructure devices that rely on AAA services for user authentication and authorization, potentially allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and escalate their privileges within the network environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the AAA service configuration where user permissions are not properly enforced during the authentication process. When AAA is enabled for permission control, the system should validate that users possess appropriate privileges before granting access to administrative functions. However, in affected Huawei switches, the permission validation mechanism fails, allowing users with insufficient privileges to obtain virtual terminal access. This occurs because the system does not adequately verify user roles and permissions before granting VTY access, which typically requires administrative privileges. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor through the authentication system, enabling attackers to gain elevated access to network management functions. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where legitimate users with reduced permissions can leverage misconfigured access controls to gain unauthorized administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for network security and infrastructure integrity. Organizations using affected Huawei switches face potential unauthorized access to critical network management functions, which could lead to complete network compromise. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain administrative control over the switches, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or disable security controls. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines and software versions, indicating a widespread issue across Huawei's enterprise networking portfolio. This creates a substantial risk for organizations that rely on these devices for core network operations, as the compromise of a single switch could potentially affect large portions of the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond immediate unauthorized access to include potential data exfiltration, network disruption, and the ability to establish persistent access points within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate configuration reviews and access control enforcement. Organizations must ensure proper AAA user privilege assignment and implement least-privilege principles for all network management accounts. Network administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of user permissions and access controls to identify and correct misconfigurations that could lead to privilege escalation. The recommended approach includes implementing strict access control policies, regular security assessments of network management interfaces, and ensuring that only authorized personnel have administrative access to network devices. Security patches and firmware updates from Huawei should be applied immediately to address the underlying vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation of this vulnerability. This aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for robust access control and monitoring mechanisms to prevent unauthorized administrative access to network infrastructure.