CVE-2005-0833 in Belkin 54g Wireless Router
Summary
by MITRE
Belkin 54G (F5D7130) wireless router allows remote attackers to access restricted resources by sniffing URIs from UPNP datagrams, then accessing those URIs, which do not require authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The Belkin 54G wireless router model F5D7130 presents a significant security vulnerability that stems from improper handling of Universal Plug and Play UPNP datagrams. This flaw enables remote attackers to perform passive network monitoring and subsequently exploit exposed administrative interfaces through unauthenticated URI access. The vulnerability specifically affects the router's implementation of UPNP protocols which are designed to facilitate automatic network device discovery and configuration. When the router broadcasts UPNP datagrams containing administrative URI paths, these communications occur over the network without adequate encryption or authentication mechanisms, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors.
The technical execution of this attack vector relies on the attacker's ability to perform network sniffing operations to capture UPNP datagrams transmitted by the vulnerable router. These datagrams contain URI paths that map to administrative functions within the router's web interface, including configuration pages, diagnostic tools, and system management utilities. Once captured, these URIs can be directly accessed by the attacker without requiring any authentication credentials, effectively providing unauthorized administrative access to the device. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient access control implementation where network protocols designed for convenience and automation inadvertently expose sensitive administrative functions to unauthenticated users on the network.
This vulnerability creates substantial operational impact for organizations and individuals utilizing affected Belkin routers, as it allows complete administrative control over the network gateway device. Attackers can modify router configurations, change network settings, implement firewall rules, access network logs, and potentially redirect traffic to malicious destinations. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised routers can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration, enabling attackers to establish persistent access or launch further attacks against internal network resources. This represents a critical weakness in network security infrastructure where a single vulnerable device can compromise entire network perimeters.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates how network protocols can be misconfigured to expose administrative interfaces without proper authentication mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to initial access techniques involving network service exploitation and privilege escalation through administrative interface compromise. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using standard network sniffing tools, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation to isolate affected devices, disable UPNP functionality where possible, and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components. The incident highlights the importance of securing network protocols at both the application and network levels to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure devices.