CVE-2017-17290 in TE60
Summary
by MITRE
The Light Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) clients of Huawei TE60 with software V600R006C00, ViewPoint 9030 with software V100R011C02, V100R011C03 have a resource management errors vulnerability. An unauthenticated, remote attacker may make the LDAP server not respond to the client's request by controlling the LDAP server. Due to improper management of LDAP connection resource, a successful exploit may cause the connection resource exhausted of the LDAP client.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17290 affects Huawei communication devices including the TE60 video conferencing system and ViewPoint 9030 servers, specifically when running vulnerable software versions. This represents a critical resource management flaw that undermines the availability of LDAP services within these systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of LDAP connection resources, creating a potential denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely without authentication. The flaw manifests when an attacker manipulates LDAP server responses in a manner that causes the client application to exhaust its available connection resources, effectively rendering the service non-responsive to legitimate client requests.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes resource management errors as a fundamental weakness in software design and implementation. The flaw demonstrates poor resource lifecycle management where connection handles are not properly released or monitored, leading to resource exhaustion. The attack vector operates entirely through network communication, leveraging the LDAP protocol which is commonly used for directory services and authentication in enterprise environments. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target these systems from outside the network perimeter, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in unsecured or poorly monitored environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire communication infrastructure that relies on these devices. When LDAP connections are exhausted, the affected systems cannot process legitimate authentication requests or directory queries, which can cascade into broader network availability issues. In enterprise environments where these devices serve as critical components of video conferencing and collaboration systems, such an attack could severely impact business operations and communication capabilities. The vulnerability affects not only the specific devices mentioned but also demonstrates a pattern of inadequate resource management that could potentially exist in other components of the Huawei product line.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Huawei to address the resource management flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual connection patterns that might indicate resource exhaustion attacks. The implementation of connection pooling with proper timeout mechanisms and resource cleanup procedures would help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious LDAP traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper resource management in network services and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create significant availability risks.