CVE-2002-1069 in DI-804
Summary
by MITRE
The remote administration capability for the D-Link DI-804 router 4.68 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and release DHCP addresses or obtain sensitive information via a direct web request to the pages (1) release.htm, (2) Device Status, or (3) Device Information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1069 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the D-Link DI-804 router firmware version 4.68. This issue stems from inadequate access controls within the router's web-based administration interface, allowing unauthenticated attackers to directly access sensitive administrative functions through specific URL endpoints. The vulnerability specifically affects the remote administration capabilities that should normally require valid authentication credentials before granting access to critical router functions. The affected pages include release.htm which handles DHCP address management, Device Status pages that expose system information, and Device Information pages containing sensitive configuration data. This represents a classic example of insufficient authorization controls that violates fundamental security principles of access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the router's web server component to properly validate authentication tokens or session identifiers before processing requests to administrative functions. Attackers can exploit this by directly crafting HTTP requests to the specific endpoints mentioned in the vulnerability description without requiring valid login credentials. The ability to release DHCP addresses remotely poses significant risks as it could disrupt network services and potentially allow attackers to manipulate network assignments. The exposure of device status and information pages creates a data leakage scenario where sensitive system details become accessible to unauthorized parties. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and specifically relates to the absence of proper authentication checks in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential service disruption and unauthorized network manipulation. An attacker with access to the network can exploit this vulnerability to release DHCP addresses, effectively disrupting network connectivity for legitimate users and potentially gaining unauthorized network access. The exposure of device status information could provide attackers with valuable reconnaissance data for planning further attacks against the network infrastructure. Additionally, the device information pages may contain configuration details, firmware versions, and other system characteristics that could be leveraged for targeted attacks against specific router models. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the affected firmware version is in use, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that fail to update their network equipment regularly.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from D-Link to address the authentication bypass vulnerability, network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and implementation of network access controls to restrict direct access to router management pages. The use of strong authentication mechanisms and secure remote access protocols should be enforced for any administrative access to network equipment. Regular vulnerability assessments and network monitoring should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other network devices. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper authentication implementation in embedded network devices, particularly those with web-based management interfaces. The issue also demonstrates the necessity of regular security updates and the potential risks associated with legacy firmware versions that may not receive ongoing security support from vendors. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces and establish incident response procedures for addressing such vulnerabilities effectively.