CVE-2013-4656 in RT-AC66U
Summary
by MITRE
Symlink Traversal vulnerability in ASUS RT-AC66U and RT-N56U due to misconfiguration in the SMB service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The CVE-2013-4656 vulnerability represents a critical symlink traversal flaw affecting ASUS RT-AC66U and RT-N56U wireless routers. This vulnerability stems from improper configuration within the SMB (Server Message Block) service implementation, creating a pathway for unauthorized file system access and manipulation. The flaw allows attackers to exploit symbolic link traversal mechanisms, potentially enabling them to access restricted directories and files beyond the intended scope of the SMB service. The vulnerability specifically impacts the router's network sharing capabilities and exposes the underlying file system to malicious exploitation attempts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-59, which describes improper link resolution without limit checks, and falls under the broader category of path traversal attacks. The flaw manifests when the SMB service fails to properly validate or sanitize symbolic link references, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that traverse the file system hierarchy. This misconfiguration enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain access to sensitive system files, configuration data, or other restricted resources within the router's file system. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to create or manipulate symbolic links that point to arbitrary locations on the device's storage, thereby undermining the intended security boundaries of the SMB service.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security and device integrity. An attacker exploiting this flaw could potentially access administrative interfaces, extract configuration files containing sensitive credentials, or even modify system files to gain persistent access to the device. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation could lead to complete device compromise and potential use as a foothold for broader network attacks. The vulnerability affects the router's ability to maintain secure file sharing operations and creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges or establish backdoors. Network administrators may face challenges in detecting such attacks, as they often appear as legitimate file system access patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4656 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from ASUS to address the specific SMB service misconfiguration. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected devices to untrusted networks. The implementation of network monitoring solutions capable of detecting unusual SMB traffic patterns and symbolic link manipulation attempts provides additional defensive layers. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary SMB services when not required, and implementing strict access controls for any remaining SMB shares. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations in other network devices. Organizations should follow ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation to understand potential attack vectors and implement appropriate defensive measures against exploitation attempts targeting such file system traversal vulnerabilities.