CVE-2017-17165 in Quidway
Summary
by MITRE
IPv6 function in Huawei Quidway S2700 V200R003C00SPC300, Quidway S5300 V200R003C00SPC300, Quidway S5700 V200R003C00SPC300, S2300 V200R003C00, V200R003C00SPC300T, V200R005C00, V200R006C00, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S2700 V200R005C00, V200R006C00, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S5300 V200R003C00, V200R003C00SPC300T, V200R003C00SPC600, V200R003C02, V200R005C00, V200R005C01, V200R005C02, V200R005C03, V200R005C05, V200R006C00, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S5700 V200R003C00, V200R003C00SPC316T, V200R003C00SPC600, V200R003C02, V200R005C00, V200R005C01, V200R005C02, V200R005C03, V200R006C00, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S600-E V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S6300 V200R003C00, V200R005C00, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00, S6700 V200R003C00, V200R005C00, V200R005C01, V200R005C02, V200R007C00, V200R008C00, V200R009C00 has an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker may send crafted malformed IPv6 packets to the affected products. Due to insufficient verification of the packets, successful exploit will cause device to reset.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17165 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the IPv6 processing functionality of Huawei Quidway series switches. This security weakness affects multiple models including S2700, S5300, S5700, S600-E, and S6300 devices across various software versions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the IPv6 packet handling routines, specifically when processing malformed IPv6 packets that are sent to the affected network infrastructure. According to CWE-129, this issue falls under the category of insufficient validation of array index values, which directly enables unauthorized remote code execution through buffer overflow conditions. The affected systems are particularly vulnerable during the processing of IPv6 packets where the device fails to properly validate packet headers and payload structures before attempting to parse them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device disruption as it creates a potential entry point for sophisticated attackers seeking to compromise network infrastructure. An unauthenticated attacker positioned within the network perimeter or capable of sending malicious packets to the affected switches can exploit this weakness by crafting specifically formatted IPv6 packets designed to trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. When these malformed packets are received and processed by the vulnerable switch, the device experiences a system reset or crash, resulting in denial of service attacks that can persist until manual intervention occurs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which describes network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure devices, potentially enabling broader compromise operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17165 should focus on immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network administrators should implement strict IPv6 packet filtering rules at network boundaries to prevent malformed IPv6 traffic from reaching affected switches. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual device restart patterns or packet processing anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the scope of potential attacks by reducing the attack surface available to unauthorized actors. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying and blocking malicious IPv6 packet patterns that match the vulnerability characteristics. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of network infrastructure components remain essential to maintaining defensive posture against similar weaknesses in other network devices.