CVE-2013-10069 in DIR-600 Rev B
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
The web interface of multiple D-Link routers, including DIR-600 rev B (≤2.14b01) and DIR-300 rev B (≤2.13), contains an unauthenticated OS command injection vulnerability in command.php, which improperly handles the cmd POST parameter. A remote attacker can exploit this flaw without authentication to spawn a Telnet service on a specified port, enabling persistent interactive shell access as root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-10069 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple D-Link router models including the DIR-600 revision B and DIR-300 revision B. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of these networking devices, specifically in the command.php file that processes POST parameters. The flaw manifests as an improper handling of the cmd parameter, creating a pathway for unauthorized command execution that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability affects firmware versions up to and including 2.14b01 for DIR-600 and 2.13 for DIR-300, indicating a widespread issue across multiple product lines from the same manufacturer. The security implications are severe as this vulnerability allows remote exploitation without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in network environments where physical access is limited but network exposure is high.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78, which specifically address improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands and command injection flaws. The flaw occurs when the web interface fails to properly sanitize or validate input received through the cmd POST parameter, allowing an attacker to inject malicious commands directly into the underlying operating system. When an attacker sends a specially crafted POST request containing OS commands through the cmd parameter, the router's web interface processes these commands without adequate validation, leading to arbitrary code execution with the highest privileges available to the web server process. This privilege escalation allows the attacker to execute commands as root, providing complete control over the device's functionality and potentially enabling further network reconnaissance and lateral movement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables persistent interactive shell access through the spawning of Telnet services on specified ports. This capability allows attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised devices, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may not immediately detect the compromise. The ability to spawn Telnet services creates a backdoor that can be used for continuous monitoring or further exploitation of the network. Network security professionals must consider that these compromised devices can serve as persistent entry points for attackers to conduct advanced persistent threat activities, potentially leading to broader network infiltration. The vulnerability affects not just individual devices but entire network infrastructures where multiple D-Link routers are deployed, as each compromised device represents a potential foothold for attackers to expand their access within the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the command injection flaw, as well as network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized Telnet service activation. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to block external access to Telnet and SSH ports, while also monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate compromised devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and parameter sanitization in web applications, particularly in network device management interfaces. Security measures should also include regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure components and implementation of network access control lists to limit exposure of management interfaces to trusted networks only. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Given the nature of the vulnerability and its potential for persistent access, security teams should treat any compromised devices as high-priority incidents requiring immediate forensic analysis and network-wide security posture assessment.