CVE-2020-1860 in NIP6800
Summary
by MITRE
NIP6800;Secospace USG6600;USG9500 products with versions of V500R001C30; V500R001C60SPC500; V500R005C00SPC100 have an access control bypass vulnerability. Attackers that can access to the internal network can exploit this vulnerability with careful deployment. Successful exploit may cause the access control to be bypassed, and attackers can directly access the Internet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2024
The CVE-2020-1860 vulnerability affects Huawei network security appliances including the NIP6800, Secospace USG6600, and USG9500 series devices running specific firmware versions. This represents a critical access control bypass flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of these network defense systems. The vulnerability exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of these devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent established security controls that are designed to protect internal networks from external threats.
This vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control policies within the device's security framework, allowing unauthorized network access when attackers successfully deploy specific exploitation techniques. The flaw manifests as a failure in the device's ability to properly validate network traffic flows and enforce the intended security boundaries between internal and external network segments. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, specifically in network security contexts where device-level access controls fail to properly enforce security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers who have already gained access to internal network segments to escalate their privileges and bypass the device's security controls entirely. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to establish direct Internet connectivity from internal network zones, potentially enabling them to exfiltrate sensitive data, deploy malware, or launch further attacks against external targets. The vulnerability's deployment requires careful planning by attackers who must understand the specific device configurations and network topology to effectively exploit the access control bypass.
From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage the bypassed access controls to establish command and control communications or exfiltrate data through various network protocols. The security implications extend beyond immediate network compromise, as the vulnerability can enable lateral movement within the network and potentially provide persistent access to critical internal systems. Organizations utilizing these affected Huawei security appliances face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations due to the fundamental weakness in their network perimeter security controls.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to patched versions released by Huawei, as well as implementation of additional network segmentation measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Network administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred, while also implementing enhanced monitoring of network traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security firmware and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components to prevent similar access control bypass scenarios from compromising organizational security postures.