CVE-2016-8789 in eSpace Integrated Access Device
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei eSpace Integrated Access Device (IAD) with software V300R001C03, V300R001C04, V300R001C06, V300R001C20, and V300R001C07 allows an attacker to trick a user into clicking a URL containing malicious scripts to obtain user information or hijack the session, aka XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8789 affects Huawei eSpace Integrated Access Device (IAD) products running specific software versions including V300R001C03, V300R001C04, V300R001C06, V300R001C20, and V300R001C07. This represents a cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to exploit user trust by crafting malicious URLs containing executable scripts. The vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of these devices, which fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before processing. When users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs, the embedded scripts execute within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially compromising the security of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web interface components of the Huawei IAD devices. The affected software versions demonstrate a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where user-supplied data is directly reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates through social engineering tactics, requiring users to actively click on malicious links rather than relying on automated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables session hijacking and potential full device compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, gain unauthorized access to device management functions, and potentially escalate privileges within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Huawei IAD devices for voice and data communication services, potentially exposing critical communication channels to unauthorized access. This risk is amplified in enterprise environments where these devices often serve as gateways for internal communication systems and may contain sensitive operational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest firmware versions provided by Huawei, which contain patches addressing the XSS flaw. Network administrators should implement additional security controls including web application firewalls, input validation mechanisms, and regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a common web application security weakness, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including spearphishing with links. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to recognize suspicious URLs and establish monitoring procedures for detecting anomalous network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.