CVE-2008-1253 in DSL-G604T
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cgi-bin/webcm on the D-Link DSL-G604T router allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the var:category parameter, as demonstrated by a request for advanced/portforw.htm on the fwan page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2017
The CVE-2008-1253 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the D-Link DSL-G604T router's web management interface. This vulnerability resides within the cgi-bin/webcm component and specifically targets the var:category parameter, which is utilized in requests for advanced/portforw.htm on the fwan page. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the router's administrative interface, creating a significant security risk for network administrators who rely on this web-based management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the router's web server component. When the router processes requests containing the var:category parameter, it fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML responses. This omission creates an opening for attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of the router's administrative interface, potentially allowing them to perform unauthorized actions or extract sensitive information from the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to compromise the entire network infrastructure managed by the affected router. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, modify router configurations, or even gain unauthorized access to the underlying network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely deployed consumer-grade router model, meaning that numerous networks could be exposed to potential compromise through this single flaw.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how embedded web interfaces in network devices can become attack vectors when proper input validation is not implemented. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: web protocols and T1566 for phishing with malicious content, as attackers could craft malicious web requests to exploit the flaw and deliver payloads to unsuspecting users. The D-Link DSL-G604T router's web management interface serves as a prime target for exploitation due to its accessibility over the network and the trust placed in the administrative interface by network administrators. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from D-Link, network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, and regular security assessments of network device configurations to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.