CVE-2017-17153 in NGFW Module
Summary
by MITRE
IKEv2 in Huawei IPS Module V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, NGFW Module V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPC500PWE, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, NIP6300 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, NIP6600 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, Secospace USG6300 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPC500PWE, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC101, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, Secospace USG6500 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPC500PWE, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC101, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, Secospace USG6600 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC100, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC301, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPC500PWE, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC101, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE, USG9500 V500R001C00, V500R001C00SPC200, V500R001C00SPC300, V500R001C00SPC303, V500R001C00SPC500, V500R001C00SPC500PWE, V500R001C00SPH303, V500R001C00SPH508, V500R001C20, V500R001C20SPC100, V500R001C20SPC100PWE, V500R001C20SPC101, V500R001C20SPC200, V500R001C20SPC200B062, V500R001C20SPC200PWE, V500R001C20SPC300B078, V500R001C20SPC300PWE has a memory leak vulnerability due to memory release failure resulted from insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit it to cause memory leak, which may further lead to system exceptions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17153 affects Huawei's Internet Key Exchange version 2 implementation within various network security modules including IPS, NGFW, NIP, and USG series devices. This memory leak vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation during IKEv2 protocol processing, specifically when handling certain malformed or unexpected input parameters. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly release allocated memory resources after processing IKEv2 messages, leading to progressive memory consumption over time. According to CWE-401, this represents a classic memory leak condition where allocated memory is not properly deallocated, creating a resource exhaustion scenario that can degrade system performance or cause unexpected behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves sending crafted IKEv2 packets to the affected Huawei devices, which triggers the memory release failure during protocol processing. The insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to craft packets that cause the system to allocate memory without subsequently freeing it, resulting in a gradual accumulation of memory usage. This memory leak can eventually lead to system instability, service disruption, or complete system crashes, particularly when sustained attacks are performed. The vulnerability impacts multiple product lines including Huawei's IPS Module V500R001C00, NGFW Module V500R001C00, NIP6300, NIP6600, Secospace USG6300, USG6500, USG6600, and USG9500 series, indicating a widespread issue across Huawei's security portfolio. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and potentially T1072 (Software Deployment Tools) if attackers leverage it to establish persistent access through system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can create conditions that allow attackers to perform more sophisticated attacks. System administrators may observe gradual performance degradation, unexpected reboots, or service interruptions that can go unnoticed for extended periods. The memory leak can also affect other system processes that depend on available memory resources, potentially causing cascading failures throughout the network infrastructure. Organizations using affected Huawei devices should consider the risk of this vulnerability being used in conjunction with other attack vectors to compromise network security. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in high-availability environments where system stability is critical, as even gradual memory exhaustion can lead to service degradation that affects business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17153 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Huawei has released patches and firmware updates that address the memory leak issue by implementing proper input validation and ensuring correct memory deallocation. Organizations should prioritize applying these security updates to all affected devices, particularly those handling critical network traffic or serving as primary security gateways. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory usage patterns that might indicate exploitation. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed IKEv2 traffic patterns can provide early warning of potential attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification that the patches have been properly installed and that no residual memory leak conditions exist within the network infrastructure.