CVE-2001-1117 in BEFSR41
Summary
by MITRE
LinkSys EtherFast BEFSR41 Cable/DSL routers running firmware before 1.39.3 Beta allows a remote attacker to view administration and user passwords by connecting to the router and viewing the HTML source for (1) index.htm and (2) Password.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2018
The CVE-2001-1117 vulnerability affects LinkSys EtherFast BEFSR41 Cable/DSL routers with firmware versions prior to 1.39.3 Beta, representing a critical security flaw in network infrastructure devices that persisted during the early 2000s era of rapid broadband adoption. This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the router's web-based administration interface, where sensitive authentication credentials are exposed through readily accessible HTML source code. The flaw specifically targets two key web pages within the router's user interface: index.htm and Password.htm, which contain unencrypted password information in their source code, making it trivial for remote attackers to extract administrative credentials without requiring any authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure web application design principles, where sensitive data is not properly protected or obfuscated within the web interface. The router's firmware fails to implement proper authorization checks or data sanitization measures, allowing any remote user who can establish a connection to the device to simply view the HTML source code of these pages and extract password information. This represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application fails to verify that the requesting user has appropriate access rights to view specific resources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to CWE-352, which covers cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities where the application does not properly validate access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected routers. With administrative access, malicious actors can modify router configurations, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, redirect traffic, disable security features, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This creates a significant risk for organizations and home users who rely on these devices for network connectivity, as the compromise of a single router can lead to widespread network infiltration and data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects consumer-grade networking equipment that many users do not regularly update, leaving these devices exposed for extended periods. This weakness demonstrates the critical importance of firmware security updates and proper access control implementation in network infrastructure devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1117 primarily focus on immediate firmware upgrades to version 1.39.3 Beta or later, which would address the underlying access control flaws in the router's web interface. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as disabling remote administration access where possible, configuring firewalls to restrict access to the router's web interface, and regularly monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity. The vulnerability highlights the need for robust security practices in embedded systems and network devices, including proper input validation, access control implementation, and secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to network infrastructure devices, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's tactics related to initial access and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of network infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network devices that may present similar exposure risks.