CVE-2011-4504 in Pseudoics
Summary
by MITRE
The UPnP IGD implementation in the Pseudo ICS UPnP software on the ZyXEL P-330W allows remote attackers to establish arbitrary port mappings by sending a UPnP AddPortMapping action in a SOAP request to the WAN interface, related to an "external forwarding" vulnerability.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4504 represents a critical security flaw in the Universal Plug and Play Internet Gateway Device implementation within ZyXEL P-330W routers. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the UPnP service that manages port mappings for network traffic. The vulnerability specifically affects the pseudo industrial control systems UPnP software component that handles external forwarding operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized remote attackers to manipulate network port configurations without proper authorization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of UPnP SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) requests sent to the router's WAN interface. Attackers can craft malicious SOAP messages containing AddPortMapping actions that instruct the router to forward traffic to arbitrary destination ports and IP addresses. This flaw exists because the UPnP implementation fails to properly validate the source of these requests or verify the legitimacy of the port mapping parameters being requested. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in network security management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to bypass normal network security controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to internal network services. An attacker could redirect traffic intended for external services to internal systems, enable remote access to internal servers, or create persistent backdoors by mapping ports to malicious services. This capability particularly affects enterprise and home networks where the router serves as the primary gateway, potentially enabling lateral movement within the network, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability is also categorized under ATT&CK technique T1098.002 for Account Manipulation and T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as it enables attackers to manipulate network routing and potentially establish covert communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of network segmentation controls and firewall rules that restrict access to UPnP services. Organizations should disable UPnP functionality on affected devices when not required, as the service presents unnecessary exposure to remote attacks. Network administrators should implement strict access controls that limit which external IP addresses can submit UPnP requests to the router's WAN interface. Additionally, regular firmware updates should be applied to address known vulnerabilities, with the specific fix for CVE-2011-4504 requiring proper input validation and authentication mechanisms within the UPnP implementation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual UPnP activity patterns and port mapping changes that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of securing network infrastructure services and highlights the risks associated with enabling unnecessary network protocols that lack proper authentication mechanisms.