CVE-2018-5791 in Networks ExtremeWireless WiNG
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Extreme Networks ExtremeWireless WiNG 5.x before 5.8.6.9 and 5.9.x before 5.9.1.3. There is a Remote, Unauthenticated Heap Overflow in the HSD Process over the MINT (Media Independent Tunnel) Protocol on the WiNG Access Point via crafted packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5791 represents a critical heap overflow flaw within Extreme Networks ExtremeWireless WiNG access point software versions 5.x prior to 5.8.6.9 and 5.9.x prior to 5.9.1.3. This vulnerability resides in the HSD process which handles communication over the MINT (Media Independent Tunnel) protocol, making it particularly dangerous as it allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw manifests when the system processes crafted packets that exceed expected buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the HSD process that manages MINT protocol communications. When the system receives malformed packets designed to trigger memory overflow conditions, the heap memory management routines fail to properly handle the excessive data, causing buffer overflows that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption. The MINT protocol specifically operates at the media independent tunneling layer, facilitating communication between access points and wireless controllers, making it a critical component for wireless network operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it enables remote code execution capabilities for attackers who can craft malicious packets to exploit the heap overflow condition. Once successfully exploited, adversaries could potentially gain full control over the affected WiNG access point, allowing them to modify wireless network configurations, intercept wireless traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the wireless infrastructure. This presents significant security implications for organizations relying on Extreme Networks wireless solutions, as the vulnerability affects the fundamental network access control mechanisms that protect wireless communications. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or valid credentials.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions 5.8.6.9 for 5.x releases and 5.9.1.3 for 5.9.x releases to address the heap overflow vulnerability. Network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit the potential impact of exploitation, while implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous packet patterns associated with the MINT protocol. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1046 for network service scanning, indicating that attackers may use this vulnerability as part of broader exploitation campaigns targeting wireless infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify crafted packets designed to trigger heap overflow conditions, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing wireless network infrastructure compromises. The remediation process should also include thorough network assessment to identify all affected access points and ensure complete patch deployment across the wireless infrastructure.