CVE-2013-2679 in Linksys E4200
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cisco Linksys E4200 router with firmware 1.0.05 build 7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) log_type, (2) ping_ip, (3) ping_size, (4) submit_type, or (5) traceroute_ip parameter to apply.cgi or (6) new_workgroup or (7) submit_button parameter to storage/apply.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2679 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Cisco Linksys E4200 wireless routers running firmware version 1.0.05 build 7. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the router's web-based management interface, specifically in the apply.cgi and storage/apply.cgi scripts. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users who access the router's administrative web interface, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors without requiring physical access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors that target different parameters within the router's configuration interfaces. Attackers can manipulate the log_type, ping_ip, ping_size, submit_type, and traceroute_ip parameters in the apply.cgi script, while also targeting the new_workgroup and submit_button parameters in the storage/apply.cgi script. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be injected and subsequently executed when the web interface renders the affected pages. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where user-controllable data is not properly escaped before being rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and potentially gain full control over the affected router. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies containing session information, or modify router configuration settings to create backdoors or disable security features. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home network environments where the router serves as a gateway, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire network infrastructure. The attack vector requires no special privileges or physical access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely over the internet.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Cisco to address the identified XSS flaws, along with network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of administrative interfaces. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns and consider disabling web-based management interfaces when not actively required. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access through web application attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting these specific parameters, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other network devices and applications.