CVE-2017-15313 in SmartCare
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei SmartCare V200R003C10 has a CSV injection vulnerability. An remote authenticated attacker could inject malicious CSV expression to the affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2019
The CVE-2017-15313 vulnerability represents a critical csv injection flaw within Huawei SmartCare V200R003C10 software, which operates as a network management and monitoring solution for telecommunications infrastructure. This vulnerability specifically affects the export functionality of the system where users can generate csv formatted reports containing network data, configuration information, and performance metrics. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the csv export module, allowing malicious actors to inject dangerous formulas or commands that execute when the csv file is opened in spreadsheet applications like microsoft excel or libreoffice calc.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the system's failure to properly escape or sanitize special characters commonly used in csv injection attacks such as the equals sign, plus sign, minus sign, and tab character. When an authenticated attacker crafts malicious input containing these characters followed by executable formulas, the system processes this input without adequate protection mechanisms. Upon export, the malicious content becomes embedded within the csv file structure, and when opened in spreadsheet applications, these formulas automatically execute, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection and data injection flaw that directly maps to CWE-94 in the CWE database, which specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary code through improper input handling.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using Huawei SmartCare systems, particularly those managing critical telecommunications infrastructure. An authenticated attacker with access to the system can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network information, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector requires only authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the network management system, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate network configurations, extract sensitive operational data, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and execution phases, specifically targeting credential access and execution through malicious file formats.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15313 should include immediate implementation of input sanitization measures within the csv export functionality, proper escaping of special characters, and deployment of updated firmware versions provided by Huawei. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the SmartCare system, enforce strict access controls, and conduct regular security assessments of their network management infrastructure. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted csv files, and organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of malicious formulas. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes to identify similar injection vulnerabilities across network management systems.