CVE-2013-3517 in WNR3500U
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NETGEAR WNR3500U and WNR3500L.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The CVE-2013-3517 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in NETGEAR WNR3500U and WNR3500L wireless routers, which falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of these network devices, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by authenticated users. The affected devices are part of NETGEAR's consumer-grade wireless router lineup, specifically targeting the WNR3500U and WNR3500L models that were widely deployed in residential and small office environments.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the router's web administration interface. When users navigate to certain configuration pages or submit data through the web UI, the device fails to adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that get executed in the context of the victim's browser session when they access affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects authenticated users who have administrative access to the router, meaning that an attacker who gains access to the router's administrative interface could leverage this XSS flaw to execute arbitrary code or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable a wide range of malicious activities within the network environment. An attacker could potentially steal administrative credentials, modify router configurations, redirect users to phishing sites, or even establish persistent backdoors through the compromised device. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that these routers are often deployed in unsecured environments where users may not regularly update firmware or implement proper network segmentation. Network reconnaissance activities could reveal that multiple devices are vulnerable to this flaw, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire network infrastructures through a single entry point. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables the execution of malicious scripts within the browser context of authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3517 should focus on immediate firmware updates provided by NETGEAR, which typically include input validation improvements and proper HTML escaping mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as network segmentation to limit the potential damage from compromised devices, and deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Regular security audits of network infrastructure should include checking for outdated firmware versions and ensuring that all network devices are running the latest security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing of web interfaces in network equipment, particularly in the context of consumer-grade devices that may not receive regular security updates from manufacturers.