CVE-2022-37100 in H200
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2022
H3C H200 H200V100R004 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the function UpdateMacClone.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-37100 affects H3C H200 and H200V100R004 network devices, representing a critical stack overflow condition that stems from improper input validation within the UpdateMacClone function. This flaw exists within the device's firmware implementation and demonstrates a classic buffer management issue where insufficient bounds checking allows maliciously crafted input to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The vulnerability resides in the device's MAC address cloning functionality, which is typically used for network device identification and management purposes but becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution when exploited properly.
The technical exploitation of this stack overflow occurs when the UpdateMacClone function processes incoming network packets or configuration data without adequate validation of input length or format. When an attacker sends specially crafted data to the affected device, the function fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into a fixed-size buffer on the stack. This condition creates a situation where the input data exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing a stack-based buffer overflow that can overwrite return addresses, saved registers, and other critical stack memory locations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices regarding input validation and memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it enables potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected network devices. Once exploited, the stack overflow could permit an attacker to inject malicious code, escalate privileges, or even establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This poses significant risks to enterprise network security, particularly since H3C devices are commonly deployed in critical network segments where unauthorized access could compromise entire network domains. The vulnerability affects network infrastructure devices that are typically considered mission-critical and often operate with elevated privileges, making the potential attack surface particularly concerning from a security perspective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-37100 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from H3C to address the root cause of the buffer overflow vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors while monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and secure coding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed packets targeting known vulnerable functions and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar issues in other network infrastructure components. Additionally, the incident highlights the necessity of conducting thorough code reviews and security testing of network device firmware to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.