CVE-2012-0314 in Pocket Wifi
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities on the eAccess Pocket WiFi (aka GP02) router before 2.00 with firmware 11.203.11.05.168 and earlier allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) initialize settings or (2) reboot the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2018
The CVE-2012-0314 vulnerability affects the eAccess Pocket WiFi GP02 router model, specifically versions prior to firmware 2.00 with firmware revision 11.203.11.05.168 and earlier. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit cross-site request forgery mechanisms within the device's web interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of HTTP requests originating from authenticated administrative sessions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate router configuration and operational states without proper authorization. The affected device operates with a web-based management interface that fails to implement adequate CSRF protection measures, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions.
The technical flaw manifests through two primary attack vectors that target the router's administrative functions. The first vector allows attackers to initialize router settings, potentially resetting configuration parameters to default values or introducing malicious configurations that could compromise network security. The second vector enables device reboot operations, which can be used to disrupt network services or as part of a larger attack chain to exploit other vulnerabilities. These CSRF vulnerabilities occur because the router's web interface does not implement proper request validation mechanisms such as anti-CSRF tokens, referer header checks, or origin validation. The absence of these protective measures means that any user who can access the router's web interface and is authenticated as an administrator can be tricked into executing unintended administrative actions through carefully crafted malicious web pages or embedded links. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication session management and request processing logic within the router's web server implementation, where legitimate administrative requests are not adequately distinguished from maliciously crafted ones.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant disruption and potential compromise of network infrastructure. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform administrative actions without requiring valid credentials or authentication bypass techniques, effectively granting them full control over the device's operational parameters. The ability to initialize settings can result in configuration changes that weaken network security, such as disabling firewall rules, modifying access controls, or altering network protocols. The reboot capability introduces additional risks by allowing attackers to disrupt network services, potentially creating denial-of-service conditions or forcing the device into a state where other vulnerabilities might be more easily exploited. This vulnerability particularly impacts small office and home network environments where such devices are commonly deployed, as administrators may not be fully aware of the security implications of web-based device management interfaces. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access to the device or network, making it particularly dangerous for unsecured or poorly configured networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 2.00 or later, which address the CSRF implementation flaws in the affected device. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the router's web interface to trusted network segments only, implementing network access control lists, and disabling unnecessary administrative services when not actively required. The implementation of proper CSRF protection mechanisms such as anti-CSRF tokens in web applications represents a fundamental security principle that aligns with industry standards including the CWE-352 category for Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous administrative activity patterns or unauthorized configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1190 technique for Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of securing network-facing devices and implementing proper access controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of network infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network devices that may be susceptible to similar CSRF attacks, as this represents a common pattern in embedded network device security implementations.