CVE-2009-2323 in MV 410R
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface on the Axesstel MV 410R redirects users back to the referring page after execution of some CGI scripts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to avoid detection of cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks, as demonstrated by a redirect from the cgi-bin/wireless.cgi script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2017
The CVE-2009-2323 vulnerability affects the Axesstel MV 410R wireless router, specifically targeting its web-based management interface. This device operates with a web server that processes CGI scripts for various administrative functions, including wireless configuration through the cgi-bin/wireless.cgi endpoint. The vulnerability stems from the web interface's improper handling of HTTP redirects following CGI script execution, creating a security gap that directly impacts the device's ability to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks.
The technical flaw manifests in the redirect behavior of the web interface after executing certain CGI scripts. When users interact with administrative functions through the web interface, the system performs a redirect back to the referring page rather than maintaining a secure session state or implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms. This design flaw allows malicious actors to craft attacks that exploit the automatic redirect behavior, effectively bypassing the security controls that should prevent unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability specifically demonstrates how an attacker can manipulate the redirect functionality to maintain persistence in CSRF attack vectors, making it significantly easier to execute successful cross-site request forgery attacks against the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it compromises the integrity of the device's administrative interface and potentially exposes the entire network to unauthorized access. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can perform administrative actions without proper authentication or authorization, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The redirect behavior essentially provides attackers with a method to mask their malicious activities by returning users to legitimate pages, thereby evading detection mechanisms that might otherwise flag suspicious requests. This vulnerability affects network security administrators who rely on the device's web interface for configuration management, as it undermines the trust model that should exist between legitimate users and the administrative interface.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and demonstrates how improper redirect handling can weaken CSRF protection mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through web-based attack vectors. The issue also relates to CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session management, as the device fails to properly maintain secure session states during administrative operations. Organizations using the Axesstel MV 410R should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from the vendor, network segmentation to limit access to the device, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional authentication layers and access controls beyond the device's native web interface to prevent exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability.