CVE-2002-1811 in F5D6130
Summary
by MITRE
Belkin F5D6130 Wireless Network Access Point running firmware AP14G8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (connection loss) by sending several SNMP GetNextRequest requests.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1811 affects the Belkin F5D6130 Wireless Network Access Point device which operates with firmware version AP14G8. This represents a significant security weakness in network infrastructure equipment that was prevalent during the early 2000s era of wireless networking. The device operates within the consumer and small office networking segment, where reliability and continuous operation are critical for maintaining network connectivity for users. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's Simple Network Management Protocol implementation, which is a standard protocol used for monitoring and managing network devices. This protocol is defined by RFC 1157 and later updated in RFC 3416, making it a fundamental component of network management systems. The flaw manifests when the access point receives multiple SNMP GetNextRequest messages, which are legitimate protocol operations used to traverse management information base structures. However, the device fails to properly handle the sequence of these requests, leading to a cascading failure that results in complete connection loss. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow, as the device's memory management for handling SNMP requests appears to be inadequate. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely, meaning that an attacker does not require physical access to the device or network privileges to execute the attack, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless access points are deployed without proper network segmentation or security controls. The attack vector specifically involves sending multiple SNMP GetNextRequest messages, which are part of the SNMP protocol's standard operations and are typically used by network management systems to retrieve information from managed devices. When these requests are sent in rapid succession, the device's firmware fails to properly process them, causing memory corruption or resource exhaustion that leads to the complete loss of network connectivity for all clients connected to the wireless access point. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA security triad, as it renders the network device unusable and affects the continuous operation of wireless services. The operational impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as network administrators may experience difficulty in diagnosing the root cause due to the device's failure to maintain normal SNMP communication after the attack. The attack pattern follows principles outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category, specifically T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries target network infrastructure to disrupt services. This vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation and resource management practices that were common in network device firmware during the early 2000s, when security considerations were often secondary to functionality and cost optimization. The device's failure to properly handle legitimate SNMP traffic indicates a lack of proper protocol implementation testing and validation. Network administrators who deploy such devices without implementing proper monitoring or intrusion detection systems may not immediately recognize the attack, as the device appears to be functioning normally until the denial of service occurs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper firmware security testing and the need for robust error handling in network management protocols. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities and ensure that critical network infrastructure devices are properly maintained with updated firmware versions. The lack of authentication requirements for SNMP operations in this device also contributes to the vulnerability's exploitability, as it allows any remote attacker to send malicious requests without needing valid credentials, which aligns with the security principle that network devices should implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for management operations. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of network infrastructure security and the potential for seemingly benign protocol operations to be exploited for malicious purposes. The impact on wireless network availability can be severe for users who depend on continuous connectivity for business operations or personal communication, as the device's failure affects all connected clients regardless of their individual network usage patterns or security configurations.