CVE-2019-5243 in HG255s
Summary
by MITRE
There is a Clickjacking vulnerability in Huawei HG255s product. An attacker may trick user to click a link and affect the integrity of a device by exploiting this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2023
The CVE-2019-5243 vulnerability represents a critical clickjacking flaw discovered in Huawei HG255s broadband access devices that fundamentally undermines user security and device integrity. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of the device, where proper security controls are absent to prevent malicious actors from overlaying transparent or opaque elements to deceive users into performing unintended actions. The flaw allows attackers to craft deceptive web pages that can manipulate user interactions with the device's administrative interface, potentially enabling unauthorized configuration changes or data manipulation. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in network infrastructure devices where administrative access can compromise entire network operations and security postures.
The technical implementation of this clickjacking vulnerability stems from the absence of proper frame-busting mechanisms and security headers within the Huawei HG255s web interface. The device fails to implement the X-Frame-Options header or Content Security Policy directives that would prevent the interface from being embedded within other web pages. This allows attackers to create malicious web pages that load the device management interface within invisible or disguised frames, tricking users into clicking on seemingly benign links that actually perform administrative actions on the target device. The vulnerability specifically affects the device's web-based administrative console, where user interactions are not properly validated or protected against overlay attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network administrators and end-users who rely on the security of their broadband infrastructure. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to perform unauthorized configuration changes, modify network settings, or potentially gain deeper access to the device's management functions. The integrity of the device is compromised as legitimate users might unknowingly execute commands that alter network behavior, potentially leading to service disruptions, data exfiltration, or further exploitation opportunities. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising the integrity and availability of the device's operational functions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1021, which specifically addresses "Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Elements" and falls under the broader category of web application security flaws. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1072, which involves the use of web shell or web-based attacks to gain unauthorized access to systems. Organizations using Huawei HG255s devices should implement immediate mitigations including enabling proper security headers, implementing content security policies, and ensuring that administrative interfaces are not accessible from untrusted networks. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of clicking suspicious links and the importance of verifying the authenticity of administrative interfaces before interacting with them.
Mitigation strategies should include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block clickjacking attempts, implementing strict content security policies that prevent frame embedding, and ensuring that administrative interfaces are accessed only through secure channels with proper authentication. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to these administrative interfaces, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure devices. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper web security implementation in network devices and highlights the need for robust security controls in all administrative interfaces to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation of network infrastructure components.