CVE-2016-6159 in WS331a
Summary
by MITRE
The management interface of Huawei WS331a routers with software before WS331a-10 V100R001C01B112 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain administrative access by sending "special packages" to the LAN interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2022
The Huawei WS331a router represents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2016-6159, which affects firmware versions prior to WS331a-10 V100R001C01B112. This vulnerability resides within the router's management interface and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the authentication mechanism that enables remote attackers to gain administrative privileges without proper credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the LAN interface of the device, making it particularly concerning as it allows attackers to bypass authentication entirely and assume full administrative control over the affected router.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication requests within the router's management interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting and sending "special packages" to the LAN interface, which effectively circumvents the normal authentication process. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require physical access or complex network positioning, as the attack can be executed remotely from any location that can reach the LAN interface, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and home network environments where such devices may be exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6159 is severe and multifaceted, as successful exploitation grants attackers complete administrative control over the affected router. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify network configurations, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, redirect traffic, disable security features, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for broader network infiltration, particularly when the affected router serves as a gateway or central point of network control. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials usage through exploitation of remote services, and T1098.001, which involves account manipulation through unauthorized access to administrative interfaces.
Organizations and network administrators should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with urgent firmware updates to version WS331a-10 V100R001C01B112 or later, which contain the necessary patches to resolve the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potentially affected devices within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing robust network security controls to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.