CVE-2020-1877 in NIP6800
Summary
by MITRE
NIP6800;Secospace USG6600;USG9500 with versions of V500R001C30; V500R001C60SPC500; V500R005C00SPC100 have an invalid pointer access vulnerability. The software system access an invalid pointer when administrator log in to the device and performs some operations. Successful exploit could cause certain process reboot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1877 affects network security devices including the NIP6800, Secospace USG6600, and USG9500 series routers running specific software versions. This represents a critical pointer dereference flaw that manifests during administrator login sessions and subsequent operational activities. The issue stems from improper memory management within the device's software architecture, where the system attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed or are otherwise invalid. Such invalid pointer access vulnerabilities fall under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences and related memory access violations. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the device's input validation and memory handling mechanisms during authenticated administrative sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators interact with the device through login procedures and perform various management operations. During these interactions, the software system attempts to dereference a pointer that either points to freed memory, has been corrupted, or was never properly initialized. This invalid memory access typically results in process termination or system instability, leading to unexpected device reboots. The impact is particularly concerning for network security infrastructure devices where availability is paramount, as unauthorized parties could potentially trigger repeated reboots, causing denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects multiple firmware versions including V500R001C30, V500R001C60SPC500, and V500R005C00SPC100, indicating this is a widespread issue across the affected product line. The exploitation requires only administrative access, making it potentially dangerous in environments where privileged accounts are compromised.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-1877 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential security implications for network infrastructure. When processes reboot unexpectedly, network traffic may be interrupted, causing service degradation or complete network outages depending on the device's role in the network topology. For firewalls and security appliances like the USG series, such instability could create security gaps during critical network operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, though this particular vulnerability represents an internal memory management flaw rather than an external attack vector. The device reboots could potentially be leveraged by attackers to create persistent availability issues or to mask other malicious activities, as the system logs may not accurately reflect the true nature of the events leading to the reboot. Organizations relying on these devices for network security must consider the potential for cascading failures if multiple devices in the same network segment are affected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-1877 should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the underlying memory management issues. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring of administrative sessions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's requirement for administrative access means that proper privileged access controls and multi-factor authentication should be enforced to limit potential exploitation vectors. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to isolate affected devices and reduce the impact of potential service disruptions. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include verification of device memory management behaviors, particularly focusing on pointer handling during authenticated sessions. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure that the memory management fixes do not introduce new compatibility issues or performance degradation in network operations. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual reboot patterns or process failures may help identify exploitation attempts before they cause significant service disruption.