CVE-2001-0514 in Firmware
Summary
by MITRE
SNMP service in Atmel 802.11b VNET-B Access Point 1.3 and earlier, as used in Netgear ME102 and Linksys WAP11, accepts arbitrary community strings with requested MIB modifications, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as WEP keys, cause a denial of service, or gain access to the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0514 represents a critical security flaw in the SNMP service implementation of Atmel 802.11b VNET-B Access Point firmware version 1.3 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects wireless access points manufactured by Netgear and Linksys, including the ME102 and WAP11 models. The issue stems from improper authentication mechanisms within the SNMP service that fails to validate community strings before processing MIB modifications, creating a significant security risk for wireless network infrastructure.
The technical flaw resides in the SNMP service's acceptance of arbitrary community strings without proper validation, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to perform operations on the Managed Information Base. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate MIB objects that contain sensitive network configuration data including WEP keys, which are fundamental to wireless network security. The vulnerability operates at the network layer and leverages the SNMP protocol's inherent design flaws, where community strings serve as the primary authentication mechanism for network management operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability provides attackers with multiple attack vectors that can severely compromise network security and availability. Remote attackers can obtain sensitive information such as WEP keys, which directly undermines the wireless network's encryption security, potentially allowing full network access and eavesdropping capabilities. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions by manipulating network management parameters, effectively disrupting wireless network operations and availability for legitimate users.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to insufficient authentication mechanisms and improper access control enforcement. This weakness enables unauthorized access to network management functions that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1078 Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to gain access to network management services using valid but improperly protected community strings. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to the latest available versions, disabling SNMP services when not required, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected devices. Regular security assessments and network monitoring should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper access controls are maintained across wireless network infrastructure.