Lenovo Discovered a Backdoor in Network Switches Which Allows Attacker Could Perform DDOS

Lenovo discovered a backdoor in network switches that powered by Enterprise Network Operating System firmware during the security audit by Lenovo in the Telnet and Serial Console management interfaces.

An Authentication bypass mechanism Backdoor also called “HP Backdoor” was discovered with some Lenovo and IBM RackSwitch and BladeCenter switch that allows attacker gain the switch management console interface.

This bypass mechanism can be accessed when performing local authentication under specific and unique circumstances.

If the flaw will be perfectly exploited that it gives direct admin levels access to the switch that leads to performing massive DDOS Attack.

Authentication Bypass mechanism added in 2004

This mechanism was added in 2004 to ENOS when its owned by Nortel’s Blade Server Switch Business Unit.

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Lenovo discovered this while source code revision and auditing history as confirmed the same.According to Lenovo Following ENOS interfaces and authentication configurations are vulnerable.

Telnet and Serial Console when performing local authentication, or a combination of RADIUS, TACACS+, or LDAP and local authentication under specific circumstances described below

Web when performing a combination of RADIUS or TACACS+ and local authentication combined with an unlikely condition under specific circumstances described below

SSH for certain firmware released in May 2004 through June 2004 (only) when performing a combination of RADIUS or TACACS+ and local authentication under specific circumstances described below; the vulnerable code is present in more recent firmware, but not used

Circumstances

• SSH in firmware released after June 2004 are not vulnerable
• SSH and Web using only local authentication are not vulnerable
• SSH, Web, Telnet, and Serial Console using LDAP, RADIUS, or TACACS+ without use of local authentication fallback are not vulnerable
• Other management interfaces, such as SNMP, are not vulnerable

Lenovo Feels, the current authentication mechanism that is used in RackSwitch and  BladeCenter switches are being bypassed is completely unacceptable.

Mitigation – Lenovo

Lenovo Removed the source code that belongs to this authentication bypass mechanism and customers are advised to upgrade to the firmware which eliminates it.

If this firmware upgrade is not suddenly possible then customer adviced to following things.

• Enable LDAP, RADIUS, or TACAS+ remote authentication AND
• For any of LDAP, RADIUS, or TACAS+ that are enabled, disable the related “Backdoor” and “Secure Backdoor” local authentication fallback settings AND
• Disable Telnet AND
• Restrict physical access to the serial console port.

you can find the affected product version by this backdoor in Lenovo release a CVE() has been assigned( CVE-2017-3765) for this flaw.