CVE-2016-5435 in IPS Module
Summary
by MITRE
Memory leak in Huawei IPS Module, NGFW Module, NIP6300, NIP6600, and Secospace USG6300, USG6500, USG6600, USG9500, and AntiDDoS8000 V500R001C00 before V500R001C20SPC100, when in hot standby networking where two devices are not directly connected, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and reboot) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5435 represents a critical memory leak flaw affecting Huawei's integrated security solutions including IPS modules, NGFW modules, NIP6300 and NIP6600 series devices, as well as Secospace USG6300, USG6500, USG6600, USG9500, and AntiDDoS8000 V500R001C00 before V500R001C20SPC100. This vulnerability specifically manifests in hot standby networking configurations where two security devices operate in redundant mode without direct physical connectivity between them. The flaw stems from inadequate memory management within the packet processing routines of these security appliances, creating a condition where memory allocated for packet handling is not properly released back to the system after processing. This memory leak occurs when the devices receive specially crafted packets designed to exploit the underlying software implementation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be exploited remotely, allowing attackers to consume system memory resources progressively until the device reaches critical memory exhaustion levels, ultimately leading to system reboot and complete service disruption. The issue is classified under CWE-401 as a failure to release memory resources, which directly relates to the improper memory management practices within the affected Huawei security platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass significant business continuity risks for organizations relying on these security devices. When exploited, the memory leak causes progressive memory consumption that can escalate to complete system memory exhaustion within a relatively short timeframe, typically measured in hours or days depending on traffic volume and packet characteristics. The resulting denial of service condition affects the availability of security services, potentially leaving networks exposed to threats during the reboot process and creating windows of vulnerability. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where security devices are directly accessible from the internet. Additionally, the hot standby configuration aspect means that when one device fails due to memory exhaustion, the redundant device must take over, potentially causing service disruption during failover operations. This vulnerability affects the core availability and reliability of security infrastructure, which directly impacts the overall security posture of affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5435 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Huawei, specifically targeting firmware versions V500R001C20SPC100 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Network administrators should implement packet filtering rules to limit or block suspicious traffic patterns that could trigger the memory leak conditions, particularly focusing on malformed packets that exploit the vulnerable processing paths. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to track memory consumption patterns on affected devices, enabling early detection of potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized traffic can reach these security devices. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts by monitoring for anomalous packet patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough testing of patch deployments in non-production environments before rolling out updates to production systems to prevent potential service disruptions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify any other potential memory-related issues within the security infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks and demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in security appliances as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's protection and detection functions.