CVE-2009-3347 in DIR-400
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow on the D-Link DIR-400 wireless router allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, as demonstrated by a certain module in VulnDisco Pack Professional 8.10 through 8.11. NOTE: as of 20090917, this disclosure has no actionable information. However, because the VulnDisco Pack author is a reliable researcher, the issue is being assigned a CVE identifier for tracking purposes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3347 represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting the D-Link DIR-400 wireless router model, which falls under the broader category of network device security flaws classified as CWE-121. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program attempts to write data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations and allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The specific nature of this flaw in the DIR-400 router's firmware creates a remote code execution vector that could be exploited by attackers positioned outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and home network environments where such devices are commonly deployed.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability demonstrates the classic characteristics of a stack-based buffer overflow attack as defined by CWE-121, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program variables. The vulnerability's designation as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers do not require physical access or local network credentials to exploit the vulnerability, significantly expanding the attack surface. The fact that this vulnerability was demonstrated through the VulnDisco Pack Professional 8.10 through 8.11 tools indicates that it was part of a broader class of network device vulnerabilities that were actively being researched and weaponized by security researchers and potentially malicious actors. The exploitation mechanism likely involves sending specially crafted packets or HTTP requests to the router's web interface or network services that process user input without proper validation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on D-Link DIR-400 routers, as it could enable attackers to gain complete control over the affected devices and potentially use them as entry points for broader network infiltration. The remote execution capability means that adversaries could install backdoors, modify network configurations, or use the compromised router as a pivot point for attacking internal network resources. This aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution and T1021.001 for remote services. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution issue also makes it particularly concerning from a defense-in-depth perspective, as it bypasses traditional network segmentation controls and could potentially allow attackers to maintain persistent access to network infrastructure.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the buffer overflow condition in the router's software components. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices and implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include disabling unnecessary services, implementing network segmentation, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in embedded network device software development practices, as recommended by secure coding guidelines and industry best practices for firmware security.