CVE-2005-0498 in router
Summary
by MITRE
Gigafast router (aka CompUSA router) allows remote attackers to gain sensitive information and bypass the login page via a direct request to backup.cfg, which reveals the administrator password in plaintext.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0498 affects the Gigafast router model, also known as the CompUSA router, presenting a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and access sensitive system information. This vulnerability stems from improper access controls and insecure configuration practices within the router's web interface implementation. The issue manifests when attackers can directly request the backup.cfg configuration file without proper authentication, thereby exposing administrative credentials in plaintext format. This represents a fundamental failure in the router's security architecture, as it violates basic principles of authentication and authorization that should prevent unauthorized access to system configuration data.
The technical flaw resides in the router's web server implementation which fails to properly validate access requests for sensitive configuration files. When the backup.cfg file is requested directly, the system does not perform adequate authentication checks or access control verification before serving the content. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass the normal login process entirely and retrieve the administrator password in plaintext format. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and CWE-312, which covers exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission. The router's web interface lacks proper input validation and access restriction mechanisms, creating an attack surface that enables privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected router. Once the plaintext administrator password is obtained, attackers can modify network configurations, implement malicious settings, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the router as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability enables a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to DNS hijacking, port forwarding modifications, firewall rule changes, and the installation of backdoors. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that can be exploited using simple HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security is not properly enforced.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of access controls on sensitive configuration files, proper authentication enforcement for all system resources, and network segmentation to limit access to critical infrastructure. Organizations should ensure that backup.cfg and similar configuration files are protected through proper authentication mechanisms and that access is restricted to authorized administrators only. The implementation of secure network practices such as regular firmware updates, network monitoring, and access logging should be enforced to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists and disabling unnecessary services to reduce the attack surface and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other network components.