CVE-2017-17151 in AR100
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei AR100, AR100-S, AR110-S, AR120, AR120-S, AR1200, AR1200-S, AR150, AR150-S, AR160, AR200, AR200-S, AR2200, AR2200-S, AR3200, AR510, DP300, NetEngine16EX, RP200, SRG1300, SRG2300, SRG3300, TE30, TE40, TE50, TE60, TP3106, TP3206, ViewPoint 8660, and ViewPoint 9030 have an insufficient validation vulnerability. Since packet validation is insufficient, an unauthenticated attacker may send special H323 packets to exploit the vulnerability. Successful exploit could allow the attacker to send malicious packets and result in DOS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17151 affects a wide range of Huawei network equipment including routers, switches, and video conferencing systems. This represents a critical security flaw in the H323 protocol implementation across multiple Huawei product lines, with the affected devices spanning from small branch office routers to enterprise-grade network infrastructure and video conferencing solutions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly examine incoming H323 packets before processing them within the network devices. This insufficient validation creates an attack surface where malicious actors can craft specially formatted packets designed to exploit the protocol handling mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of H323 packet structures and content, allowing attackers to send malformed or specially crafted packets that can trigger unexpected behavior in the affected devices. H323 is a signaling protocol used for voice and video communication over IP networks, and when improperly validated, these packets can cause the target devices to enter unstable states or crash entirely. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices that process H323 traffic without adequate sanitization of packet contents, making them susceptible to denial of service attacks through the injection of malicious H323 protocol data. This issue aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how protocol implementation flaws can create widespread security risks across network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as successful exploitation can result in complete denial of service across affected network segments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to launch coordinated denial of service attacks against network infrastructure, potentially disrupting critical business communications, video conferencing services, and network connectivity for extended periods. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any network user with access to send packets to the affected devices can potentially exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network access is not strictly controlled. The widespread deployment of these Huawei devices across enterprise networks, government agencies, and service providers amplifies the potential impact, as a single exploited device can compromise entire network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17151 should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control measures to prevent unauthorized packet injection into affected networks. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous H323 traffic patterns and establish firewall rules to filter out suspicious packet content. The most effective long-term solution involves applying official firmware updates provided by Huawei to address the input validation deficiencies in the H323 protocol handling. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection capabilities specifically targeting H323 protocol anomalies. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving protocol manipulation and denial of service attacks, with potential for lateral movement if attackers can establish persistent access through other vulnerabilities. Network administrators should also review and update their incident response procedures to account for this type of protocol-based attack vector, ensuring rapid detection and remediation of similar vulnerabilities across their network infrastructure.