CVE-2008-6395 in Wireless 8760 Dual-radio
Summary
by MITRE
The web management interface in 3Com Wireless 8760 Dual Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device crash) via a malformed HTTP POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6395 affects the web management interface of the 3Com Wireless 8760 Dual Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against the device. This vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP POST request handling mechanism within the access point's web interface, which lacks proper input validation and error handling procedures. The affected device operates in a wireless network environment where it serves as a critical infrastructure component for network access control and wireless connectivity management, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt network operations.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient validation of HTTP POST requests sent to the web management interface, allowing attackers to craft malformed requests that exploit buffer overflow conditions or improper state handling within the device's web server implementation. When the access point receives these specially crafted requests, it fails to properly process the malformed data, leading to a crash of the device's web management service or potentially the entire device itself. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities that can result in system crashes and service interruptions. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as any remote attacker can potentially trigger the denial of service condition without prior access credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as the 3Com Wireless 8760 access point serves as a fundamental component in wireless network infrastructure. When compromised, the device becomes unavailable for legitimate management activities, potentially blocking authorized network administrators from maintaining or configuring the wireless network. This can result in extended network outages, loss of wireless connectivity for users, and potential security gaps if the device cannot be properly managed during the outage period. Network availability is particularly critical in enterprise environments where wireless access points support business operations, making this vulnerability especially concerning from a business continuity perspective. The device's role in providing both 802.11a/b/g wireless connectivity and power over ethernet functionality means that a successful attack could impact not just network management but also the physical infrastructure that relies on the access point's operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure to potential attackers. Network administrators should implement firewall rules that restrict access to the web management interface to trusted IP addresses only, and consider disabling the web interface entirely if it is not required for administrative purposes. The device firmware should be updated to the latest available version from 3Com, as vendors typically release patches to address known vulnerabilities of this nature. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual traffic patterns or malformed HTTP requests can help identify potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, which involves spearphishing with social engineering tactics that could be used to gain initial access before exploiting this vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other network infrastructure devices, as this type of vulnerability is often present in embedded systems and network appliances that lack comprehensive input validation mechanisms.