CVE-2008-6975 in DD-WRT
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in apply.cgi in DD-WRT 24 sp2 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) execute arbitrary commands via the ping_ip parameter; (2) change the administrative credentials via the http_username and http_passwd parameters; (3) enable remote administration via the remote_management parameter; or (4) configure port forwarding via certain from, to, ip, and pro parameters. NOTE: This issue reportedly exists because of a "weak ... anti-CSRF fix" implemented in 24 sp2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6975 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in DD-WRT firmware version 24 sp2 affecting the apply.cgi script. This flaw exposes administrative functions to unauthorized manipulation through carefully crafted web requests that can be triggered when administrators visit malicious websites or click on compromised links. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based administration interface of the router, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring direct network access to the device itself. The issue stems from inadequate protection mechanisms that fail to properly validate request origins and authenticity, creating a pathway for attackers to perform administrative actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves multiple attack vectors through the apply.cgi script that processes administrative requests. Attackers can exploit the flaw to execute arbitrary commands via the ping_ip parameter, effectively allowing remote code execution on the affected router. The vulnerability also permits credential changes through http_username and http_passwd parameters, potentially enabling complete takeover of administrative access. Additionally, attackers can enable remote administration capabilities through the remote_management parameter and configure port forwarding rules using various parameters including from, to, ip, and pro. These multiple attack surfaces compound the risk significantly, as a single successful CSRF attack can result in complete network compromise. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6975 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables comprehensive network compromise through a single attack vector. Once exploited, attackers can gain complete control over router configuration, potentially redirecting traffic, disabling security features, or establishing persistent backdoors. The ability to execute arbitrary commands makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for network infrastructure, as it can be used to create unauthorized access points, monitor network traffic, or launch further attacks against connected devices. The remote administration enablement capability allows attackers to configure persistent access to the network, while port forwarding configuration can expose internal network services to external threats. The weakness in the anti-CSRF implementation specifically referenced in the vulnerability description indicates that the fix was insufficient to properly protect against this class of attack, leaving the firmware vulnerable to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to address the CSRF protection weaknesses. Network administrators should implement additional security measures including disabling remote administration features where possible, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper anti-CSRF tokens and origin validation mechanisms should be enforced at the application level, following security best practices established in OWASP and NIST guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and ensure that all network devices are regularly updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in network infrastructure devices, as the lack of adequate CSRF protection in this case allowed attackers to bypass normal administrative access controls and assume complete control over network operations.