CVE-2008-1254 in P-660HW
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities on the ZyXEL P-660HW series router allow remote attackers to (1) change DNS servers and (2) add keywords to the "bannedlist" via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2017
The CVE-2008-1254 vulnerability affects ZyXEL P-660HW series routers, representing a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that enables remote attackers to manipulate router configuration settings without authentication. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws in web applications and network devices. The affected routers expose web interfaces that lack proper CSRF protection mechanisms, making them susceptible to malicious attacks that can be executed through carefully crafted web requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform two distinct malicious actions through unspecified vectors within the router's web administration interface. The first vector enables modification of DNS server settings, which can redirect network traffic to malicious servers and potentially facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks or phishing operations. The second vector permits addition of keywords to the router's bannedlist functionality, which can be used to block legitimate websites or services while allowing malicious content to pass through. Both operations require no authentication credentials and can be executed remotely, making the attack surface particularly dangerous for home and small office networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it fundamentally compromises network security and user privacy. By altering DNS settings, attackers can redirect all network traffic through malicious servers, potentially intercepting sensitive data, injecting malicious content, or redirecting users to fraudulent websites. The bannedlist manipulation capability creates a sophisticated attack vector where legitimate websites can be blocked while attacker-controlled content is permitted, effectively creating a covert surveillance or data exfiltration mechanism. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where routers serve as network gateways and security perimeters.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1254 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from ZyXEL, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent router releases. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized DNS changes or bannedlist modifications. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block CSRF attack patterns targeting router web interfaces. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls for router administration interfaces, limiting access to trusted networks and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering attacks that exploit the compromised router's configuration.