CVE-2017-10932 in NR8000
Summary
by MITRE
All versions prior to V12.17.20 of the ZTE Microwave NR8000 series products - NR8120, NR8120A, NR8120, NR8150, NR8250, NR8000 TR and NR8950 are the applications of C/S architecture using the Java RMI service in which the servers use the Apache Commons Collections (ACC) library that may result in Java deserialization vulnerabilities. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the vulnerabilities by sending a crafted RMI request to execute arbitrary code on the target host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10932 affects ZTE Microwave NR8000 series products including models NR8120, NR8120A, NR8150, NR8250, NR8000 TR, and NR8950. These network infrastructure devices operate on a client-server architecture utilizing Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) services for communication. The affected systems incorporate the Apache Commons Collections library version 3.1 or earlier, which contains a critical deserialization flaw that enables remote code execution without authentication requirements. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk for telecommunications infrastructure components that form the backbone of wireless network operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure deserialization of untrusted data within the Java RMI service implementation. When the affected ZTE devices process incoming RMI requests, they utilize the Apache Commons Collections library to deserialize data structures, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious serialized objects. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before deserializing it, allowing an attacker to craft specially crafted RMI requests that contain malicious payloads. This deserialization vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a critical security weakness. The vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution on the target system with the privileges of the running service, potentially allowing full system compromise and persistent access to the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of critical telecommunications infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to network operations, potentially disrupting wireless communications, accessing sensitive operational data, or establishing persistent backdoors within the network. The lack of authentication requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone on the network without requiring any credentials. This type of vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" or similar execution techniques when attackers leverage the deserialization vulnerability to establish remote access. The vulnerability affects devices that are typically deployed in mission-critical network environments, making the potential impact on network availability and security substantial.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates to version 12.17.20 or later, which addresses the Apache Commons Collections deserialization issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, restrict RMI service exposure, and monitor network traffic for suspicious RMI activity. Security controls should include disabling unnecessary RMI services, implementing network access controls, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of industrial control systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious RMI request patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping third-party libraries updated and implementing secure coding practices that prevent deserialization of untrusted data, which aligns with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security frameworks.