CVE-2017-17254 in AR120-S
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei AR120-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR1200 V200R006C10, V200R006C13, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR1200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR150 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR150-S V200R006C10SPC300, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR160 V200R006C10, V200R006C12, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR200 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR2200 V200R006C10, V200R006C13, V200R006C16PWE, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR2200-S V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR3200 V200R006C10, V200R006C11, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C00, V200R008C10, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR3600 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, AR510 V200R006C10, V200R006C12, V200R006C13, V200R006C15, V200R006C16, V200R006C17, V200R007C00SPC180T, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, DP300 V500R002C00, IPS Module V100R001C10SPC200, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NGFW Module V100R001C10SPC200, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R002C00, V500R002C10, NIP6300 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6600 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, NIP6800 V500R001C50, NetEngine16EX V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, RSE6500 V500R002C00, SRG1300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, SRG2300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, SRG3300 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, 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 V100R001C00SPC200, V100R001C10, V100R001C20, V100R001C30, V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, V500R001C60, TE30 V100R001C02, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE40 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE50 V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TE60 V100R001C01, V100R001C10, V500R002C00, V600R006C00, TP3106 V100R002C00, TP3206 V100R002C00, V100R002C10, USG6000V V500R001C20, USG9500 V500R001C00, V500R001C20, V500R001C30, V500R001C50, USG9520 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9560 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, USG9580 V300R001C01, V300R001C20, VP9660 V500R002C00, V500R002C10, ViewPoint 8660 V100R008C03, ViewPoint 9030 V100R011C02 have a null pointer dereference vulnerability in H323 protocol. An unauthenticated, remote attacker could craft malformed packets and send the packets to the affected products. Due to insufficient validation of packets, which could be exploited to cause process crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17254 affects multiple Huawei network equipment models including AR series routers, firewalls, and unified threat management devices. This issue manifests as a null pointer dereference within the H323 protocol implementation, representing a critical weakness that can be exploited remotely without authentication. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize incoming H323 protocol packets, creating an exploitable condition where malformed data can trigger unexpected behavior in the affected systems.
The technical flaw resides in the handling of H323 protocol messages, which are commonly used for voice and video communication over IP networks. When the system receives malformed H323 packets, it attempts to dereference a null pointer during processing, leading to an immediate process crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-476, which describes null pointer dereference vulnerabilities that occur when a program attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed from remote locations, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the affected devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can lead to complete system unavailability and potential denial of service across critical network infrastructure. Network administrators may face challenges in identifying compromised systems since the crash occurs silently without logging meaningful error messages. The widespread nature of affected products means that organizations with multiple Huawei devices across their network infrastructure are at significant risk of cascading failures, especially in environments where H323 traffic is prevalent for VoIP services. This vulnerability particularly affects environments with unified communications systems where H323 protocol is actively used for voice and video conferencing applications.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the underlying null pointer dereference issue. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the attack surface by restricting unauthorized access to affected devices. Implementing intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed H323 traffic patterns can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling H323 protocol support on devices where it is not essential, reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service highlights the importance of maintaining resilient network architectures that can withstand such attacks while ensuring business continuity through proper incident response procedures and system monitoring protocols.