CVE-2012-0902 in Air 4450
Summary
by MITRE
AirTies Air 4450 1.1.2.18 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (reboot) via a direct request to cgi-bin/loader.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The AirTies Air 4450 wireless router running firmware version 1.1.2.18 presents a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack through a specific web interface endpoint. This vulnerability resides within the router's web server implementation and specifically targets the cgi-bin/loader path which handles various administrative functions. The flaw represents a classic command injection or improper input validation issue that allows unauthorized users to manipulate the device's operational state. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the device's network interface. The affected device operates under a standard web server architecture where CGI scripts process user requests, and the loader endpoint appears to lack proper validation of incoming parameters or request handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request directly to the cgi-bin/loader endpoint on the affected router. This request triggers an improper response handling mechanism within the router's firmware that causes the device to restart or reboot automatically. The underlying flaw likely stems from insufficient input sanitization or improper resource management within the CGI script execution environment. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, or potentially CWE-77, which covers command injection vulnerabilities. The attack vector demonstrates a clear path from network access to service disruption, representing a fundamental weakness in the device's security architecture. The vulnerability may also exhibit characteristics of CWE-20, input validation issues, where the router fails to properly validate or sanitize data received through its web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and reliability for all devices connected to the affected router. When an attacker successfully triggers the denial of service condition, the router becomes temporarily inaccessible to legitimate users, causing network outages that can affect business operations, home connectivity, and critical network services. The automatic reboot process may also result in temporary loss of network configuration settings or cause the device to cycle through its initialization sequence, potentially leading to more severe network disruptions. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a simple yet effective means of network disruption without requiring advanced technical skills or privileged access. The attack can be executed repeatedly, allowing for sustained denial of service conditions that may be difficult to distinguish from legitimate network issues. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and residential networks where router availability is critical for maintaining connectivity and network services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor, which would contain patches addressing the input validation and request handling flaws within the cgi-bin loader component. Network administrators should implement access control measures such as restricting access to the router's web interface to trusted networks only, utilizing firewall rules to block unauthorized access to the device's management ports. The implementation of network monitoring solutions can help detect unusual reboot patterns or suspicious network traffic directed toward the affected device. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure from potentially vulnerable endpoints. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and potentially T1071.004, representing application layer protocol usage. The mitigation approach should also include regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network equipment. Organizations must ensure that all network devices receive timely security updates and that firmware version management processes are implemented to prevent deployment of vulnerable software versions.