CVE-2020-9067 in SmartAX MA5600T
Summary
by MITRE
There is a buffer overflow vulnerability in some Huawei products. The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to perform remote code execution on the affected products when the affected product functions as an optical line terminal (OLT). Affected product versions include:SmartAX MA5600T versions V800R013C10, V800R015C00, V800R015C10, V800R017C00, V800R017C10, V800R018C00, V800R018C10; SmartAX MA5800 versions V100R017C00, V100R017C10, V100R018C00, V100R018C10, V100R019C10; SmartAX EA5800 versions V100R018C00, V100R018C10, V100R019C10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2024
This buffer overflow vulnerability in Huawei SmartAX series optical line terminals represents a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution when these devices function as OLT equipment. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the device's network protocol handling mechanisms, specifically affecting the authentication and configuration management processes that are fundamental to optical network infrastructure operations. The affected products span multiple generations of Huawei's enterprise access equipment, indicating a widespread issue that impacts both legacy and newer deployments across various service provider networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow condition where maliciously crafted network packets or configuration data can overwrite adjacent memory locations within the OLT's processing stack. This occurs when the device receives input data that exceeds the allocated buffer size without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary code into the device's execution environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates over the network without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials, making it accessible to remote threat actors who can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized control over the network infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability creates a severe risk to network service availability and security posture for organizations relying on Huawei OLT equipment. The remote code execution capability allows attackers to establish persistent backdoors, modify network configurations, redirect traffic flows, or even disable critical network services entirely. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of service provider networks, potentially affecting thousands of end users who depend on the connected services. The affected versions represent a significant portion of Huawei's enterprise access equipment deployed in production environments, amplifying the potential impact across multiple service provider networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which classify buffer overflow conditions as fundamental software security flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) when exploited by attackers seeking to establish persistent access and control over network infrastructure. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation controls, disable unnecessary services, and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, Huawei has released security patches for the affected versions, and network administrators must prioritize updating all vulnerable devices to prevent exploitation and maintain network integrity.
The broader implications extend to supply chain security concerns, as these devices are typically deployed in critical network infrastructure where unauthorized access can lead to widespread service disruption or data compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in network equipment, particularly in devices that handle untrusted network traffic. Security professionals should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their entire network infrastructure to identify other potentially affected devices and implement layered security controls to mitigate the risk of similar exploitation attempts.