CVE-2017-15312 in SmartCare
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei SmartCare V200R003C10 has a stored XSS (cross-site scripting) vulnerability in the dashboard module. A remote authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts in the affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15312 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within Huawei SmartCare V200R003C10, a network management and monitoring platform widely deployed in enterprise and telecommunications environments. This vulnerability resides in the dashboard module, which serves as a central interface for system administrators to monitor network performance, view alerts, and manage device configurations. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts persistently remain within the application's database or storage mechanisms, allowing attackers to execute code against unsuspecting users who subsequently access the compromised dashboard. The vulnerability specifically affects remote authenticated attackers who have legitimate credentials to access the SmartCare system, making it particularly dangerous as it exploits the trust relationship between the application and its legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the dashboard module's data handling processes. When legitimate users interact with the dashboard, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and subsequently rendering it in web pages. This creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected through various input vectors such as device names, alert descriptions, or configuration parameters. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities, yet the impact remains severe due to the privileged access level of the compromised accounts. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even after the initial injection, the malicious code continues to execute whenever any user accesses the affected dashboard components.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15312 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive network management information and system controls. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to detailed network topology information, device configurations, performance metrics, and potentially escalate privileges within the SmartCare environment. The vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate network monitoring data to obscure malicious activities. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through command-line interfaces, and potentially T1566.001 related to spearphishing with malicious attachments, as attackers might use the compromised dashboard to further their infiltration efforts. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Huawei SmartCare for network monitoring, particularly those in critical infrastructure sectors where network visibility and control are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15312 should focus on immediate patching and operational hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize applying Huawei's official security patches for SmartCare V200R003C10, as these updates specifically address the input validation and output sanitization deficiencies. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that dashboard access is restricted to only essential personnel with proper authorization. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and input validation controls at multiple layers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security assessments should include thorough testing of web application interfaces for similar vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on stored XSS attack vectors. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security awareness training for network administrators, as social engineering attacks that target legitimate credentials remain a primary exploitation pathway. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls specifically configured to detect and block XSS attack patterns, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous dashboard access patterns that might indicate successful exploitation attempts.