CVE-2018-7900 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
There is an information leak vulnerability in some Huawei HG products. An attacker may obtain information about the HG device by exploiting this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7900 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting Huawei HG series network devices. This weakness enables unauthorized actors to extract sensitive system information from affected devices, potentially compromising the overall security posture of network infrastructures that rely on these components. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the device management interfaces, creating opportunities for malicious users to gather confidential data without proper authentication. Such information leaks can include system configurations, network topology details, device identifiers, and potentially credential information that could facilitate further attacks. The affected Huawei HG products typically serve as residential gateways or enterprise network access points, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to map network environments and identify additional vulnerabilities within connected systems. This type of information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The security implications extend beyond simple data leakage, as the gathered intelligence can enable more sophisticated attack vectors including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and targeted exploitation of other system components.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2018-7900 occurs through crafted requests or malformed inputs that trigger the device to reveal internal system details. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by sending specially constructed packets or HTTP requests to the device's management interface, which then responds with information that should remain confidential. The flaw likely exists in how the device processes certain input parameters or handles error responses, inadvertently exposing internal state information or configuration data. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer, where attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access or advanced technical knowledge. The vulnerability's impact is amplified when multiple devices within the same network segment are affected, as attackers can use the gathered information to create comprehensive network maps and identify potential attack paths. From an operational perspective, the vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Huawei HG devices, as it provides attackers with the foundational intelligence needed to plan more targeted and effective attacks. The information obtained through this vulnerability can be used to bypass security controls, identify system weaknesses, and understand network architecture in ways that significantly increase the potential damage from subsequent attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7900 extends beyond immediate information disclosure to encompass broader security implications for affected organizations. Network administrators may find their devices compromised without detection, as the information leakage occurs silently in the background without generating obvious alerts or error messages. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous because it can remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to gather intelligence continuously while maintaining access to the compromised systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates weaknesses in Huawei's security development lifecycle, particularly in input validation and output sanitization processes. Organizations may experience increased risk of cascading attacks where initial information gathering leads to more sophisticated breaches, potentially resulting in full system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could lead to regulatory violations if sensitive information is exposed, particularly in environments governed by standards such as pci dss, hipaa, or iso 27001. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under information gathering techniques, specifically noting how adversaries can use such flaws to collect system information before executing more destructive actions. Security professionals must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability when assessing network security postures, as it represents a fundamental weakness in device security that could be exploited to undermine multiple layers of protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7900 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Huawei, as the vendor would have released patches addressing the specific information disclosure flaw. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact by restricting unauthorized access to management interfaces, thereby reducing the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual requests to device management ports or protocols. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network components, as this vulnerability often indicates broader security issues within device configurations. Access controls should be strengthened through implementation of multi-factor authentication, network access control lists, and regular credential rotation practices to minimize the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to detect patterns associated with information disclosure attacks, enabling proactive response to potential exploitation activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure that patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing network configurations while effectively addressing the information leakage vulnerability. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address information disclosure vulnerabilities, ensuring rapid identification and containment of any exploitation attempts that may occur.