Quite frankly I don't know anything about that detail. I suppose Slava will know better.
In any case I expect Hungary at the time was a backwards economy country with a low literacy rate, and you know that's directly connected with lack of ethical standards. Whether condoned by authorities I have no idea, but it seems credible that the lower ranks wouldn't have any reason not to behave with brutality.
BBC - WW2 People's War - Hungary Category