CVE-2008-1252 in Speedport W500 DSL router
Summary
by MITRE
b_banner.stm (aka the login page) on the Deutsche Telekom Speedport W500 DSL router allows remote attackers to obtain the logon password by reading the pwd field in the HTML source.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The Deutsche Telekom Speedport W500 DSL router presents a critical security vulnerability through its b_banner.stm component, which serves as the login page for the device. This flaw represents a classic case of insecure credential handling where sensitive authentication information is exposed through improper HTML source code generation. The vulnerability specifically affects the pwd field within the HTML source code, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can view the page source. This exposure occurs due to the router's failure to properly sanitize or obfuscate authentication credentials during the web interface rendering process, creating an information disclosure weakness that directly compromises the device's security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the router's web server component failing to adequately protect sensitive data elements within its HTML output. When users navigate to the login page, the pwd field is rendered in plain text within the HTML source code rather than being properly masked or obscured through secure coding practices. This represents a clear violation of secure coding principles and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in how the device handles authentication data. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple web browser inspection techniques, requiring no specialized tools or advanced technical knowledge to identify and leverage.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability fundamentally undermines the security model of the Speedport W500 router by providing attackers with direct access to administrative credentials. Once obtained, the password enables unauthorized access to the router's management interface, potentially allowing attackers to modify network configurations, implement malicious settings, or establish persistent access points. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks where these routers are deployed, as attackers can use the compromised credentials to access other networked devices. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and compromises the confidentiality of authentication information, making it a significant concern for enterprise and home network security.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-312, focusing on the exposure of sensitive data in cleartext. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of credential access through web application attacks, and T1078, representing legitimate credentials usage. The exposure of passwords through HTML source code represents a clear violation of information security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges within the network environment. Organizations deploying these routers face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential network compromise, particularly in environments where network security is not properly segmented or monitored.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates from Deutsche Telekom or third-party security vendors, proper network segmentation to limit access to router management interfaces, and implementation of network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should enforce strong password policies, implement multi-factor authentication where possible, and conduct regular security assessments of network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and demonstrates why proper input validation and output sanitization are critical components of network security design.