CVE-2016-6178 in NE40E
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei NE40E and CX600 devices with software before V800R007SPH017; PTN 6900-2-M8 devices with software before V800R007SPH019; NE5000E devices with software before V800R006SPH018; and CloudEngine devices 12800 with software before V100R003SPH010 and V100R005 before V100R005SPH006 allow remote attackers with control plane access to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6178 represents a critical remote code execution and denial of service flaw affecting multiple Huawei networking devices including NE40E and CX600 series routers, PTN 6900-2-M8 transport devices, NE5000E core routers, and CloudEngine 12800 switches. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the control plane processing components of these network appliances, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted network packets. The affected software versions span multiple product lines and firmware revisions, indicating a widespread issue that impacts enterprise-grade networking infrastructure used in critical communications networks. The vulnerability specifically targets the control plane functionality which manages routing decisions, protocol processing, and device configuration management, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise the fundamental operations of network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated control plane access is available to an attacker who can then transmit specially crafted packets designed to trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other input validation failures within the device's processing stack. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The attack vector requires an attacker to possess control plane credentials or network access that allows them to send packets to the device's control plane interfaces, which typically include routing protocol ports such as bgp, ospf, or other protocol-specific ports. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation and execution technique, where adversaries leverage network protocol vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially achieve full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the control plane processes. Network administrators face significant risks including potential network outages, unauthorized access to sensitive routing information, and the possibility of attackers using compromised devices as launch points for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects devices that typically operate in mission-critical environments where network availability is paramount, making the potential for disruption extremely severe. Organizations with these vulnerable devices may experience cascading failures as routing protocols become unstable, leading to widespread network disruption across connected systems. The control plane access requirement means that this vulnerability is particularly concerning for networks where administrative access is not properly secured or where legacy authentication mechanisms are still in use.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6178 should focus on immediate software updates to the patched firmware versions specified in Huawei security advisories, with particular attention to the affected software revision numbers including V800R007SPH017 for NE40E/CX600 devices, V800R007SPH019 for PTN 6900-2-M8, V800R006SPH018 for NE5000E, and the respective CloudEngine patch versions. Network segmentation and access control should be implemented to restrict control plane access to trusted administrative networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also consider implementing ingress filtering and access control lists to limit which sources can communicate with control plane interfaces, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify any remaining vulnerable devices within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing robust network access controls for critical infrastructure components, as these devices serve as foundational elements of enterprise network security and stability.