CVE-2002-0888 in 3CP4144
Summary
by MITRE
3Com OfficeConnect Remote 812 ADSL Router, firmware 1.1.9 and 1.1.7, allows remote attackers to bypass port access restrictions by connecting to an approved port and quickly connecting to the desired port, which is allowed by the router.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0888 affects 3Com OfficeConnect Remote 812 ADSL routers running firmware versions 1.1.9 and 1.1.7, representing a significant security flaw in network access control mechanisms. This issue stems from a timing-based bypass mechanism that exploits the router's port access restriction implementation, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to gain access to restricted network ports through a specific sequence of connection attempts. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where the router's access control list enforcement fails to properly validate connection sequences, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to circumvent intended security controls. The flaw demonstrates a classic race condition vulnerability where the router's state management does not adequately prevent rapid successive connection attempts from different ports.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the router's failure to properly track and validate connection states during rapid port switching operations. When an attacker connects to an approved port and immediately follows with a connection attempt to a restricted port, the router's access control mechanism fails to properly enforce the restriction due to insufficient state validation. This behavior aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in security-critical operations, and represents a timing-based access control bypass where the attacker exploits temporal gaps in the router's security enforcement. The vulnerability specifically targets the router's network access control implementation, where the device should enforce strict port-based restrictions but fails to maintain proper state tracking during rapid connection sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to administrative interfaces, internal network resources, or sensitive services that should be restricted to authorized users only. The remote nature of the attack means that no physical access or local network presence is required, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This type of vulnerability would typically map to ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers could use this to discover and exploit additional network services. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor path through the network's perimeter defenses, potentially allowing attackers to pivot to other systems within the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper state validation and connection sequence enforcement within the router's access control mechanisms. Network administrators should immediately update to firmware versions that address this timing-based access control flaw, as 3Com likely released patches to fix the race condition in their access control implementation. The solution involves ensuring that the router properly validates connection attempts and maintains consistent state tracking even during rapid successive connection attempts. Additional network security measures such as implementing network segmentation, deploying intrusion detection systems, and enforcing strict firewall rules can help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control policies that limit the exposure of sensitive services and ensure that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper state management in security-critical systems and the need for comprehensive testing of access control mechanisms under various timing conditions.