CVE-2004-2749 in Homeportal
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in wra/public/wralogin in 2Wire Gateway, possibly as used in HomePortal and other product lines, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the return parameter. NOTE: this issue was reported as XSS, but this might be a terminology error.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2749 represents a directory traversal flaw within the 2Wire Gateway software, specifically affecting the wra/public/wralogin component. This security weakness exists in the HomePortal and related product lines, demonstrating how network infrastructure devices can contain critical flaws that expose sensitive system resources to unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters, particularly the return parameter that is processed during authentication flows.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the directory traversal vulnerability by manipulating the return parameter with .. (dot dot) sequences, enabling them to navigate the file system beyond the intended directories. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The exploitation mechanism leverages the lack of proper input sanitization to bypass access controls and potentially access sensitive files that should remain protected from external inspection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to access configuration files, authentication credentials, or other sensitive system data that could be used for further exploitation. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as it allows unauthorized remote users to potentially access files they should not be able to reach. The vulnerability affects not only the specific wra/public/wralogin component but also demonstrates how similar flaws might exist across related product lines, suggesting a systemic security issue within the software architecture.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk in network infrastructure devices, particularly those with web-based management interfaces. The potential for escalation exists through additional attack vectors, as attackers might combine this directory traversal flaw with other vulnerabilities to achieve complete system compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, proper parameter sanitization, and access restriction mechanisms to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and code review processes to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in production environments, aligning with industry best practices outlined in security frameworks such as those recommended by the Center for Internet Security and NIST guidelines for secure system development.