CVE-2017-10935 in ZXR10 1800-2S
Summary
by MITRE
All versions prior to ZSRV2 V3.00.40 of the ZTE ZXR10 1800-2S products allow remote authenticated users to bypass the original password authentication protection to change other user's password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10935 affects ZTE ZXR10 1800-2S network devices running firmware versions prior to V3.00.40. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the fundamental security controls designed to protect user accounts within the device management interface. The issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions when attempting password modification operations.
The technical flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability where authenticated users can manipulate the device's authentication system to modify passwords of other user accounts without proper authorization. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and access control checks within the password change functionality. The vulnerability allows an attacker with legitimate login credentials to exploit a logic flaw in the authentication subsystem, effectively bypassing the intended protection mechanisms that should prevent users from modifying accounts other than their own.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for network administrators who rely on proper user access controls for device security. An attacker who gains access to any valid user account can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain control over other administrative accounts, potentially leading to complete device compromise. The impact extends beyond simple password changes as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive network configurations and operational controls. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the device's authentication framework.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control issues, specifically focusing on inadequate authorization checks during privilege operations. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the flaw allows attackers to escalate their privileges through legitimate authentication mechanisms. Organizations using affected ZTE devices face increased risk of insider threats and external exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where multiple administrative accounts exist. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates to version V3.00.40 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the authorization bypass. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring of authentication events and password change activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of network device configurations are essential to identify similar authorization flaws in other network equipment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper access control implementation and regular security updates in maintaining network infrastructure integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional authentication controls to reduce the impact if such vulnerabilities are exploited.