CVE-2017-15320 in RP200
Summary
by MITRE
RP200 V500R002C00, V600R006C00; TE30 V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00; TE40 V500R002C00, V600R006C00; TE50 V500R002C00, V600R006C00; TE60 V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00 have an out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in some Huawei products. Due to insufficient input validation, a remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending specially crafted SS7 related packets to the target devices. Successful exploit will cause out-of-bounds read and possibly crash the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15320 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw affecting multiple Huawei communication devices including RP200 and various TE series terminals. This vulnerability exists within the signaling processing components of these devices, specifically within their SS7 protocol handling mechanisms. The affected products span multiple firmware versions, indicating a widespread issue that impacts both older and newer iterations of Huawei's communication infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects devices that form critical components of telecommunication networks, potentially compromising the stability and reliability of enterprise communication systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SS7 packet processing subsystem of the affected Huawei devices. When these devices receive specially crafted SS7 packets, the parsing logic fails to properly validate the boundaries of packet data structures, leading to memory access violations beyond allocated buffer limits. This out-of-bounds read condition occurs during the processing of signaling messages that are fundamental to telecommunication network operations, particularly in scenarios involving call setup, management, and termination. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard network traffic without requiring specialized access or authentication credentials.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potentially compromise the entire communication infrastructure. A successful exploitation could result in device crashes, service interruptions, and potential denial of service conditions that affect business continuity. The remote exploit nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter, making them particularly attractive targets for malicious actors seeking to disrupt communication services. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models suggests that organizations relying on Huawei communication equipment across different network segments may face cascading failures if not properly addressed.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the attack framework, particularly those involving protocol-based attacks and network-level exploitation techniques. This flaw represents a classic example of a buffer over-read vulnerability, which is categorized under CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust placed in signaling protocols within telecommunication networks, making it a sophisticated target for adversaries seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring protocols to detect anomalous SS7 traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates provided by Huawei to address the validation gaps in SS7 packet handling. Network administrators should also implement traffic filtering rules to restrict potentially malicious SS7 packets at network boundaries, particularly at locations where these devices interface with external telecommunication networks. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to monitor SS7 protocol anomalies and establishing comprehensive monitoring procedures to detect system instability or unexpected restarts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough network assessments to identify all affected devices and prioritize remediation efforts based on the criticality of the communication services they support.