CVE-2021-22320 in IPS Module
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2021
There is a denial of service vulnerability in Huawei products. A module cannot deal with specific messages correctly. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious messages to an affected module. This can lead to denial of service. Affected product include some versions of IPS Module, NGFW Module, NIP6600, NIP6800, Secospace USG6300, Secospace USG6500 and Secospace USG6600.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-22320 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Huawei's network security infrastructure products. This flaw specifically affects modules responsible for processing network traffic and security policies, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt normal operational functions. The vulnerability manifests when affected modules encounter specific malformed or crafted messages that they cannot properly handle, leading to system instability and service interruption. The impacted product lineup includes several key Huawei security appliances such as the IPS Module, NGFW Module, NIP6600, NIP6800, and various Secospace USG series devices, indicating a broad attack surface across Huawei's security portfolio. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes issues related to resource exhaustion and improper handling of exceptional conditions in software systems. This classification emphasizes that the flaw stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms within the message processing components of these security devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire security infrastructure of affected networks. When attackers exploit this weakness by sending carefully crafted malicious messages, they can cause affected modules to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering critical security functions unavailable. This denial of service condition can persist until manual intervention occurs, requiring system restarts or administrative remediation. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure components. Organizations relying on these Huawei security appliances face significant operational risks, as the vulnerability could be exploited to disable crucial network monitoring, intrusion prevention, and firewall capabilities. The affected devices typically operate in mission-critical network environments where continuous availability is essential for maintaining security posture and protecting against other threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-22320 should prioritize immediate implementation of firmware updates provided by Huawei to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network administrators must also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual message patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, utilizing security information and event management systems to track potential attack indicators. The vulnerability's nature suggests that input validation and robust error handling mechanisms should be strengthened through configuration hardening practices, including limiting message processing capabilities and implementing rate limiting controls. Organizations should also consider network segmentation strategies to isolate affected devices and prevent lateral movement of attacks. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signatures specifically targeting this vulnerability can provide early warning capabilities. The security community should remain vigilant about potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds related to this specific CVE, as the vulnerability's impact on network security infrastructure makes it a high-priority target for threat actors seeking to disrupt enterprise security operations.