CVE-2022-48616 in AR6000
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2023
A Huawei data communication product has a command injection vulnerability. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may allow attackers to gain higher privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-48616 affects Huawei data communication products and represents a critical command injection flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the command execution mechanisms of Huawei's networking equipment, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of network infrastructure. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization processes that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into system commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious inputs that bypass security controls and inject command sequences directly into the system's execution pipeline. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-77 and CWE-88, which classify command injection flaws as critical security weaknesses that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting Windows Command Shell and Unix Shell execution paths.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2022-48616 requires attackers to send specially crafted payloads to the vulnerable Huawei devices, typically through network interfaces or management protocols. The flaw allows for arbitrary command execution with elevated privileges, potentially enabling attackers to gain root access or administrative control over the affected equipment. This privilege escalation capability significantly amplifies the impact of the vulnerability, as it provides attackers with comprehensive control over network infrastructure components. The vulnerability affects Huawei data communication products including routers, switches, and other network devices that utilize command execution functions for various operational tasks. The attack surface encompasses both web-based management interfaces and command-line protocols that process user inputs without adequate sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate security breaches to encompass potential network disruption, data exfiltration, and compromise of critical infrastructure. Organizations relying on Huawei networking equipment face significant risks including unauthorized access to network configurations, modification of routing tables, and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's presence in data communication products means that attackers could manipulate network traffic flows, intercept sensitive communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This threat landscape aligns with the broader category of supply chain attacks where vulnerabilities in networking equipment can affect entire enterprise networks. The compromised devices may serve as launching points for lateral movement attacks, enabling attackers to expand their access within the network environment and target additional systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-48616 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Huawei, as the vendor has released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations must implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the network infrastructure. Network monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous command execution patterns and unusual network behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced to minimize the potential impact of successful attacks, ensuring that even if a device is compromised, attackers cannot escalate privileges beyond the initial access level. Additionally, organizations should maintain comprehensive incident response procedures specifically tailored to address command injection vulnerabilities in network infrastructure equipment, including regular staff training on identifying and responding to such security incidents.