CVE-2017-15338 in NGFW Module
Summary
by MITRE
The SIP module in Huawei DP300 V500R002C00, IPS Module V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NGFW Module V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R002C00, V500R002C10, NIP6300 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6600 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6800 V500R001C50, RP200 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, SVN5600 V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SVN5800 V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SVN5800-C V200R003C00, V200R003C10, SeMG9811 V300R001C01, Secospace USG6300 V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, Secospace USG6500 V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, Secospace USG6600 V100R001C00, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, TE30 V100R001C02, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE40 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE50 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE60 V100R001C01, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, USG9500 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, USG9520 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9560 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9580 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, VP9660 V200R001C02, V200R001C30, V500R002C00, V500R002C10, ViewPoint 8660 V100R008C03, ViewPoint 9030 V100R011C02, V100R011C03, eSpace U1981 V100R001C20, V200R003C00, V200R003C20, V200R003C30 has a buffer overflow vulnerability. An attacker would have to find a way to craft specific messages to the affected products. Due to the insufficient validation for SIP messages, successful exploit may cause services abnormal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15338 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) module of numerous Huawei network security appliances and communication devices. This weakness affects a broad spectrum of Huawei products including data protection modules, intrusion prevention systems, next generation firewalls, network intrusion prevention devices, security gateways, video conferencing equipment, and unified communication systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the SIP message processing functionality, where the system fails to properly sanitize or limit the size of incoming SIP messages. This insufficient validation creates an exploitable condition where specially crafted SIP packets can cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or service disruption. The affected products span multiple firmware versions and device families, indicating this is a widespread issue across Huawei's security and communication portfolio. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, while the operational impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, involving the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious SIP messages that exceed the intended buffer capacity within the affected Huawei devices. When the system processes these malformed messages, the excessive data overflows into adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical system structures or executing attacker-controlled code. The nature of the vulnerability suggests that it operates at the application layer, targeting the SIP protocol implementation rather than underlying network protocols. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning as SIP is commonly used for VoIP communications, making the exploitation potentially disruptive to voice services. The vulnerability's impact is not limited to immediate service disruption but could also enable persistent access to the affected systems, as buffer overflows often provide pathways for privilege escalation or further exploitation. The attack vector requires network-level access to send crafted SIP messages to the vulnerable devices, making it a network-based vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers without physical access to the systems. The specific implementation details suggest that the vulnerability affects the memory management routines responsible for handling SIP message parsing, where insufficient bounds checking allows memory corruption during message processing.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service interruption to encompass potential security breaches and system compromise across Huawei's extensive product ecosystem. Organizations utilizing affected Huawei devices may face unauthorized access to their communication infrastructure, particularly in environments where SIP is used for voice and video conferencing services. The widespread nature of affected products means that enterprises with diverse Huawei security infrastructure could simultaneously face exposure to this vulnerability. Network administrators may observe unexpected service disruptions, system crashes, or performance degradation as attackers exploit this weakness. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these devices for network security, as attackers could potentially gain administrative control over the affected appliances. The impact is particularly severe in environments where these devices serve as critical components of network security architecture, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and data protection modules that control network access and monitor traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15338 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Huawei, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure, particularly by restricting SIP traffic to necessary network segments. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous SIP message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual message sizes or malformed SIP headers. Implementing network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious SIP traffic before it reaches vulnerable devices. Organizations should also consider disabling SIP functionality on devices where it is not essential, reducing the attack surface. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all affected Huawei products to identify additional potential weaknesses and ensure complete remediation. The implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict SIP traffic can provide additional layers of protection while awaiting official patches. Regular security audits should be performed to verify that all affected devices have been properly updated and that no residual vulnerabilities remain. Additionally, organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including protocols for detecting compromise and restoring affected systems.