CVE-2001-0618 in Orinoco RG-1000
Summary
by MITRE
Orinoco RG-1000 wireless Residential Gateway uses the last 5 digits of the Network Name or SSID as the default Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption key. Since the SSID occurs in the clear during communications, a remote attacker could determine the WEP key and decrypt RG-1000 traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The CVE-2001-0618 vulnerability affects the Orinoco RG-1000 wireless residential gateway device, representing a fundamental flaw in wireless network security implementation that directly violates established cryptographic best practices. This device employs a deterministic key derivation mechanism where the last five digits of the Service Set Identifier or SSID are automatically used as the default Wired Equivalent Privacy encryption key. This approach fundamentally undermines the security model of WEP encryption by creating a predictable and easily discoverable key structure that eliminates the cryptographic strength typically expected from encryption mechanisms.
The technical flaw stems from the device's failure to implement proper key generation and management protocols, creating a direct correlation between the network identifier and the encryption key. This vulnerability operates at the network layer and exploits the inherent weaknesses of WEP's key management system, where the SSID is transmitted in plaintext within beacon frames and probe responses during wireless network discovery processes. The attack vector is entirely remote and does not require physical access to the device, as the SSID information is publicly visible during normal wireless network communication. This weakness directly maps to CWE-326, which addresses the use of weak encryption algorithms and improper key management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1041 for data compression and encryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and immediate, as it allows remote attackers to compromise the entire wireless network security posture of affected devices. Once an attacker captures the SSID information through passive network monitoring, they can immediately derive the WEP key and decrypt all wireless traffic passing through the network. This creates a complete breach of confidentiality and allows for potential man-in-the-middle attacks, data interception, and unauthorized network access. The vulnerability affects the core security functionality of the device, rendering the implemented encryption worthless and leaving all wireless communications exposed to eavesdropping and modification. The attack can be executed using standard wireless network analysis tools and requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment in residential and small business environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate replacement of affected devices with models implementing stronger encryption standards such as WPA2 or WPA3, as WEP encryption is fundamentally flawed and no longer considered secure by industry standards including NIST SP 800-46 and IEEE 802.11i. Network administrators should implement proper key management practices, including the use of random and complex encryption keys that are not derived from network identifiers. The device configuration should be updated to disable WEP encryption entirely and enforce stronger authentication mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation and additional security layers such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and key management practices, as outlined in ISO/IEC 15408 Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation and NIST SP 800-57 guidelines for cryptographic key management.