CVE-2012-6050 in MikroTik
Summary
by MITRE
The winbox service in MikroTik RouterOS 5.15 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption), read the router version, and possibly have other impacts via a request to download the router s DLLs or plugins, as demonstrated by roteros.dll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6050 affects the winbox service component within MikroTik RouterOS versions 5.15 and earlier, representing a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to exploit the system through carefully crafted requests. This flaw resides in the service's handling of download requests for router components, specifically targeting the retrieval of dynamic link libraries and plugins that form part of the router's operational framework. The vulnerability manifests when attackers send specific requests to the winbox service, triggering unintended behavior that impacts system resources and potentially exposes sensitive information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the winbox protocol's inadequate input validation and resource management when processing download requests for router components. Attackers can craft malicious requests that cause the router's cpu to consume excessive resources, leading to a denial of service condition that effectively renders the network device non-functional. This particular flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the router's legitimate functionality to perform unintended operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the roteros.dll component, which represents a core system file within MikroTik's router operating system architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to include potential information disclosure and system instability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause sustained high cpu utilization that prevents the router from performing its normal network routing functions, effectively creating a denial of service condition that impacts network connectivity for all devices relying on that router. Additionally, the attack vector allows remote adversaries to obtain version information about the router's operating system, which can be used for further exploitation attempts or to determine the specific vulnerabilities present in the system. This information disclosure aspect makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where attackers seek to gather intelligence about network infrastructure before launching more sophisticated attacks.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-400, which describes "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" or "Resource Exhaustion" in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" within the broader context of network infrastructure attacks. The exploitation pattern follows ATT&CK tactic TA0040, which covers "Execution" and "Impact" phases, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to both execute malicious code through resource exhaustion and impact system availability. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability, while also applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the specific resource management issues in the winbox service implementation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for MikroTik RouterOS versions 5.15 and earlier, as well as implementing network monitoring to detect unusual cpu consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also consider disabling the winbox service entirely if it is not required for operational purposes, as this eliminates the attack surface associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious download requests to router components will help organizations detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in network infrastructure devices, highlighting how seemingly legitimate service functionality can be abused to create significant security impacts when not properly secured against malicious input manipulation.