CVE-2020-9101 in IPS Module
Summary
by MITRE
There is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in some products. An unauthenticated attacker crafts malformed packets with specific parameter and sends the packets to the affected products. Due to insufficient validation of packets, which may be exploited to cause the process reboot. Affected product versions include: IPS Module versions V500R005C00, V500R005C10; NGFW Module versions V500R005C00, V500R005C10; Secospace USG6300 versions V500R001C30, V500R001C60, V500R005C00, V500R005C10; Secospace USG6500 versions V500R001C30, V500R001C60, V500R005C00, V500R005C10; Secospace USG6600 versions V500R001C30, V500R001C60, V500R005C00, V500R005C10; USG9500 versions V500R001C30, V500R001C60, V500R005C00, V500R005C10
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition that affects multiple Huawei network security appliances including IPS modules, NGFW modules, and various USG series firewalls. The flaw manifests when the affected devices receive malformed network packets containing specific parameter values that bypass normal input validation mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions where an application writes data past the end of a buffer or other storage object. The security implications extend beyond simple memory corruption as this vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers without requiring any prior access credentials or privileges.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves crafting specially formatted network packets that exploit insufficient input validation routines within the affected software components. When these malformed packets are processed by the vulnerable devices, they trigger an out-of-bounds write operation that can cause the targeted process to crash or reboot unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1499.002 for network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage system vulnerabilities to disrupt service availability. The affected products span multiple hardware platforms and software versions, indicating a widespread impact across Huawei's security appliance portfolio.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged for sustained denial of service attacks against network infrastructure. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining availability for critical security services when these devices may spontaneously reboot due to crafted packet inputs. The affected versions represent multiple generations of Huawei's security appliances, suggesting that this vulnerability has been present for an extended period and potentially exploited in the wild. The specific software versions listed indicate that the vulnerability affects both older releases (V500R001C30, V500R001C60) and newer updates (V500R005C00, V500R005C10), highlighting the persistence of the underlying validation flaw.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Huawei to address the root cause of the validation failure. Network administrators must prioritize patching all affected devices across their infrastructure to prevent exploitation by external attackers. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control measures can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Monitoring network traffic for unusual packet patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and boundary checking in network security appliances, particularly those handling untrusted network traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar validation flaws in other network components.