CVE-2020-9127 in NIP6300
Summary
by MITRE • 11/13/2020
Some Huawei products have a command injection vulnerability. Due to insufficient input validation, an attacker with high privilege may inject some malicious codes in some files of the affected products. Successful exploit may cause command injection.Affected product versions include:NIP6300 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60;NIP6600 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60;Secospace USG6300 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60;Secospace USG6500 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60;Secospace USG6600 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60;USG9500 versions V500R001C30,V500R001C60.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in Huawei network security appliances that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the affected product lines. The vulnerability manifests when high-privileged attackers can inject malicious code into specific files of the affected devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise through command execution. The affected Huawei products include NIP6300 and NIP6600 series routers, as well as Secospace USG6300, USG6500, USG6600, and USG9500 firewall models. These devices operate at the network perimeter where they handle critical security functions including traffic filtering, intrusion prevention, and network access control, making them attractive targets for sophisticated adversaries seeking persistent access to network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed by system commands or shell interfaces. In Huawei's case, the insufficient validation allows attackers to manipulate input parameters that are subsequently passed to underlying operating system commands, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected service account. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector since the vulnerability specifically targets high-privileged users, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative control over network security devices that are fundamental to network protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as compromised network security appliances can be leveraged to perform advanced persistent threat activities. Attackers could potentially use the compromised devices as stepping stones for lateral movement within the network, establish persistent backdoors, or redirect traffic through malicious proxies. The affected products serve as critical network infrastructure components that control access to enterprise networks, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and scripting interpreter execution, privilege escalation, and persistence mechanisms. The attack surface is further expanded because these devices often operate in environments where they handle sensitive traffic and access control decisions, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls or exfiltrate data.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Huawei, implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and conducting thorough network monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and privilege separation in network security infrastructure, as well as the critical need for regular security assessments of network devices. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access control lists to restrict direct access to these devices from untrusted networks, and establish robust logging and monitoring capabilities to detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of securing network infrastructure devices, as they represent the first line of defense in network security architectures.