CVE-2009-1556 in WVC54GCA
Summary
by MITRE
img/main.cgi on the Cisco Linksys WVC54GCA wireless video camera with firmware 1.00R22 and 1.00R24 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files in img/ via a filename in the next_file parameter, as demonstrated by reading .htpasswd to obtain the admin password, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-2507.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1556 represents a critical file inclusion flaw within the Cisco Linksys WVC54GCA wireless video camera firmware versions 1.00R22 and 1.00R24. This issue resides in the img/main.cgi script which processes user input through the next_file parameter, creating a path traversal condition that allows authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files within the device's file system. The vulnerability specifically affects the web interface components of the wireless video camera, which operates as a network-connected security device designed for remote monitoring and surveillance purposes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the next_file parameter in the img/main.cgi script, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before using it to construct file paths. This allows an authenticated attacker to craft malicious requests that traverse the file system directory structure and access sensitive files located in the img/ directory. The demonstration of this vulnerability shows how an attacker could read the .htpasswd file, which contains administrative credentials and authentication information, thereby providing unauthorized access to the device's administrative interface. This represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations deploying Cisco Linksys WVC54GCA devices in security-critical environments. Remote authenticated attackers who can establish a valid session with the device gain the ability to extract sensitive authentication credentials, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized access to surveillance footage and network resources. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2004-2507 indicates that while both issues involve file reading capabilities, this particular vulnerability specifically targets the web interface components rather than other attack vectors. The authentication requirement means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but this represents a privilege escalation issue within the existing access controls rather than a complete bypass of authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates to versions that address the path traversal flaw, proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, and implementation of network segmentation to limit access to these devices. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web interface functionality and implementing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized authentication attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in embedded device security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 which covers data from information repositories. Security monitoring should focus on unusual file access patterns and authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, particularly in environments where wireless video cameras are deployed for security monitoring purposes.