CVE-2013-3307 in X3000
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2025
Linksys E1000 devices through 2.1.02, E1200 devices before 2.0.05, and E3200 devices through 1.0.04 allow OS command injection via shell metacharacters in the apply.cgi ping_ip parameter on TCP port 52000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2026
This vulnerability affects a range of Linksys wireless routers including the E1000 series up to version 2.1.02, E1200 series before version 2.0.05, and E3200 series up to version 1.0.04. The issue resides in the apply.cgi web interface component that handles network diagnostic requests through TCP port 52000. The flaw enables unauthorized remote command execution when malicious shell metacharacters are passed through the ping_ip parameter, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary operating system commands directly into the router's underlying Linux-based system.
The technical implementation involves improper input validation within the web application layer where user-supplied data from the ping_ip parameter is directly concatenated into system commands without adequate sanitization or escaping. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that maps to CWE-77, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly validate or escape input before executing shell operations, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be interpreted by the system shell and executed with the privileges of the web server process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to network security as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices without authentication. An attacker could potentially gain complete control over the router's functionality, including access to internal network resources, modification of routing tables, interception of network traffic, or even the ability to establish persistent backdoors. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates through a standard network service port and requires no prior credentials, making it highly exploitable in automated scanning campaigns.
The impact extends beyond immediate device compromise as compromised routers can serve as launching points for broader network attacks, enabling attackers to perform man-in-the-middle operations, redirect traffic, or use the device as a pivot point to access other systems within the local network. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071.004 for application layer protocol, demonstrating how unvalidated input can be leveraged to achieve persistent access and lateral movement within network environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates from Linksys to address the vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring of traffic on TCP port 52000 for suspicious activity. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing firewall rules to restrict access to the vulnerable port, and conducting thorough network assessments to identify all potentially affected devices within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and proper secure coding practices in embedded systems and web applications to prevent exploitation of command injection flaws.