CVE-2017-17301 in ARXXXX
Summary
by MITRE
Huawei AR120-S V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, AR1200 V200R005C20, V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, AR1200-S V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, AR150 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, AR160 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, AR200 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, AR200-S V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, AR2200 V200R005C20, V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, AR2200-S V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, AR3200 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R006C11, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R007C02, V200R008C00, V200R008C10, V200R008C20, V200R008C30, AR3600 V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C01, V200R008C20, AR510 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, CloudEngine 12800 V100R003C00, V100R003C10, V100R005C00, V100R005C10, V100R006C00, V200R001C00, CloudEngine 5800 V100R003C00, V100R003C10, V100R005C00, V100R005C10, V100R006C00, V200R001C00, CloudEngine 6800 V100R003C00, V100R003C10, V100R005C00, V100R005C10, V100R006C00, V200R001C00, CloudEngine 7800 V100R003C00, V100R003C10, V100R005C00, V100R005C10, V100R006C00, V200R001C00, DP300 V500R002C00, SMC2.0 V100R003C10, V100R005C00, V500R002C00, SRG1300 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, SRG2300 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R007C02, V200R008C20, SRG3300 V200R005C32, V200R006C10, V200R007C00, V200R008C20, TE30 V100R001C10, TE60 V100R003C00, V500R002C00, VP9660 V200R001C02, V200R001C30, V500R002C00, ViewPoint 8660 V100R008C02, V100R008C03, eSpace IAD V300R002C01, eSpace U1981 V200R003C20, V200R003C30, eSpace USM V100R001C01, V300R001C00 have a weak cryptography vulnerability. Due to not properly some values in the certificates, an unauthenticated remote attacker could forges a specific RSA certificate and exploits the vulnerability to pass identity authentication and logs into the target device to obtain permissions configured for the specific user name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17301 affects Huawei network equipment across multiple product lines including AR series routers, CloudEngine switches, SMC2.0 systems, and various other network infrastructure devices. This weakness stems from insufficient cryptographic implementation within the certificate validation process, specifically related to how certain values are handled during certificate processing. The vulnerability resides in the cryptographic protocols used for device authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network security infrastructure. The affected devices operate with firmware versions spanning multiple releases from V200R005 through V200R008 for various AR series, and V100R003 through V200R001 for CloudEngine series, indicating a widespread issue across Huawei's product portfolio. The weakness manifests when the system fails to properly validate critical certificate parameters, allowing an attacker to forge RSA certificates that appear legitimate to the target device. This flaw enables unauthenticated remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to network devices. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as successful exploitation allows attackers to assume the identity of specific users configured within the device, potentially gaining elevated privileges and access to sensitive network configurations. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, focusing on credentials from password storage devices. The flaw exploits the trust model inherent in certificate-based authentication systems, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of public key infrastructure implementations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, gain persistent access to network infrastructure, and potentially escalate privileges to administrative levels. The attack vector requires no prior authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly concerning for network security operations. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns, and applying firmware updates as provided by Huawei to remediate this vulnerability. The issue underscores the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in network security devices and demonstrates how weaknesses in certificate validation can compromise entire network infrastructures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the forging of RSA certificates through manipulation of certificate parameters that should normally be validated for integrity. When devices process these forged certificates, they fail to properly validate the cryptographic signatures or other certificate attributes, allowing the attacker to authenticate successfully with the system. The weakness in certificate validation allows for the bypass of authentication mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to network devices. This vulnerability specifically affects the certificate processing logic within Huawei's network equipment firmware implementations, where the cryptographic validation routines do not adequately verify all necessary certificate components. The attack scenario involves an unauthenticated remote attacker who can construct a malicious certificate that satisfies the device's validation requirements, thereby gaining access to the system as a configured user. The exploitation process typically requires the attacker to understand the target device's certificate structure and generate a forged certificate that meets the validation criteria. This weakness can be particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and potentially access network resources that should be restricted to authorized personnel. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that it affects multiple device types and firmware versions, suggesting a systemic issue in Huawei's cryptographic implementation approach. The issue represents a failure in the certificate validation process that should normally prevent forged certificates from being accepted by the system. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be exploited for lateral movement within networks and potentially for more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17301 extends beyond immediate unauthorized access to encompass potential network compromise and data exfiltration capabilities. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain persistent access to network infrastructure, potentially enabling them to monitor network traffic, modify configurations, or establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability affects critical network security infrastructure, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise networks. Organizations running affected Huawei equipment face significant risk of unauthorized network access, configuration changes, and potential data breaches. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter, reducing the effectiveness of traditional network security controls. Network administrators should be particularly concerned about the potential for attackers to use this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive network information, including routing configurations, user credentials, and network topology details. The impact is amplified by the widespread nature of affected devices, meaning that a single exploited device could provide attackers with access to multiple network segments or services. Organizations should also consider the potential for this vulnerability to be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and advanced persistent threat operations. The vulnerability's presence in both network access devices and security management systems creates additional risk for organizations that rely on these devices for network security. Security operations teams should implement monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and ensure that all affected devices are updated with appropriate firmware patches. The vulnerability's classification as a weak cryptography issue means that organizations should review their entire cryptographic implementation approach and consider whether similar weaknesses exist in other network components. The potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other attack vectors makes it particularly dangerous for enterprise network security.