CVE-2009-3962 in 1700HG
Summary
by MITRE
The management interface on the 2wire Gateway 1700HG, 1701HG, 1800HW, 2071, 2700HG, and 2701HG-T with software before 5.29.52 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (reboot) via a %0d%0a sequence in the page parameter to the xslt program on TCP port 50001, a related issue to CVE-2006-4523.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3962 affects multiple 2wire Gateway models including the 1700HG, 1701HG, 1800HW, 2071, 2700HG, and 2701HG-T devices running firmware versions prior to 5.29.52. This issue resides within the management interface of these network devices, specifically targeting the xslt program that operates on TCP port 50001. The vulnerability represents a classic input validation flaw that can be exploited to trigger a remote denial of service condition, forcing the affected devices to reboot unexpectedly. The attack vector involves sending a maliciously crafted request containing a %0d%0a sequence within the page parameter, which demonstrates the device's insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input handling and can be classified as CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw stems from the device's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before processing them through the xslt transformation engine. The %0d%0a sequence represents carriage return and line feed characters that when improperly handled can lead to various injection attacks and protocol manipulation. The specific target of TCP port 50001 indicates this is a web-based management interface that typically provides administrative access to the device configuration and monitoring capabilities. The relationship to CVE-2006-4523 suggests this represents a similar class of vulnerabilities affecting the same device family and likely stems from common code patterns or architectural weaknesses in the device's web server implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators. The denial of service condition caused by the device reboot can result in temporary network outages, disruption of critical services, and potential loss of network management capabilities. In enterprise environments, this could lead to significant operational downtime and require manual intervention to restore device functionality. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in residential and small business environments, where network administrators may not be immediately aware of the device's exposure or the potential for remote exploitation. The attack can be executed from any location with network access to the device, making it a particularly concerning threat vector for devices with exposed management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 5.29.52 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to the management interface, particularly on TCP port 50001, limiting exposure to only trusted administrative networks. The implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules can help prevent unauthorized access to the management interface from external networks. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns on port 50001 can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling the management interface if it is not required for remote access, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular firmware updates and proper network security practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services and T1499 for disruption of services through denial of service attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for proper input validation and sanitization in network device management interfaces, as well as the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all network infrastructure components.