CVE-2016-5723 in FusionInsight HD
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei FusionInsight HD before V100R002C60SPC200 allows local users to gain root privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5723 affects Huawei FusionInsight HD software versions prior to V100R002C60SPC200, representing a critical local privilege escalation flaw that enables unauthorized local users to achieve root-level system access. This vulnerability resides within the distributed data processing platform that Huawei provides for big data analytics and management, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments that rely on secure data processing infrastructure. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the system could potentially be exploited, indicating a fundamental weakness in the privilege management mechanisms of the software.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate privilege separation and access control mechanisms within the Huawei FusionInsight HD framework. Local users typically have restricted system permissions, but this flaw allows them to elevate their privileges to the root level without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability likely involves improper handling of system calls, insufficient input validation, or flawed privilege checking routines that permit malicious local actions to bypass normal security boundaries. Such issues commonly fall under CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, or CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. The exploitation of this vulnerability represents a classic privilege escalation attack pattern that aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation tactic.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5723 is severe and multifaceted for organizations utilizing Huawei FusionInsight HD systems. Once exploited, attackers with local access can gain complete control over the affected nodes, potentially compromising entire distributed clusters and accessing sensitive data processed through the platform. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of big data environments where multiple users and processes interact, as it allows attackers to perform arbitrary system modifications, install malicious software, or exfiltrate confidential information. Organizations running these systems face risks including data breaches, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical data processing operations that may involve personally identifiable information, financial data, or proprietary business intelligence. The distributed nature of FusionInsight HD systems means that exploitation on a single node could potentially provide attackers with access to broader network resources or facilitate lateral movement within the infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5723 should prioritize immediate software updates to the patched version V100R002C60SPC200 or later, as provided by Huawei. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring of system logs for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and conduct thorough security audits of their big data environments. Network segmentation and least-privilege access principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of local user access. System administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, enhanced logging mechanisms, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated software to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing data processing workflows or applications running on the FusionInsight HD platform. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this type of local privilege escalation vulnerability.