CVE-2013-4937 in RT-N66U Router
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the AiCloud feature on the ASUS RT-AC66U, RT-N66U, RT-N65U, RT-N14U, RT-N16, RT-N56U, and DSL-N55U with firmware before 3.0.4.372 have unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4937 affects ASUS routers including models RT-AC66U, RT-N66U, RT-N65U, RT-N14U, RT-N16, RT-N56U, and DSL-N55U with firmware versions prior to 3.0.4.372. This issue resides within the AiCloud feature, which represents a cloud-based service integration that allows users to access their router configurations and connected devices remotely. The AiCloud functionality enables features such as remote administration, device monitoring, and cloud synchronization, making it a critical component of the router's overall security posture. The unspecified nature of the vulnerabilities within this feature creates significant concern for cybersecurity professionals, as the exact attack vectors and potential impact remain unclear without further detailed analysis.
The technical flaw exists within the AiCloud implementation that handles authentication, authorization, and data transmission between the router and ASUS cloud services. Given that these devices operate as network gateways and often contain sensitive configuration data, any vulnerability in the cloud integration component could potentially allow unauthorized access to the router's management interface. The lack of specific details about the vulnerability types makes this particularly dangerous, as it could encompass various security weaknesses including but not limited to authentication bypass, privilege escalation, information disclosure, or remote code execution. The vulnerability affects the firmware level, meaning that exploitation could potentially compromise the entire router operating system and its network security functions.
The operational impact of these unspecified vulnerabilities could be substantial, particularly for enterprise and home users who rely on the AiCloud feature for remote access and management. Attackers who successfully exploit these vulnerabilities could gain unauthorized access to router configurations, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The remote nature of the AiCloud service means that attackers could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access to the device. This could enable man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, or the installation of persistent backdoors on the network. The affected devices may also be vulnerable to denial-of-service conditions that could disrupt network connectivity for users who depend on these routers for internet access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 3.0.4.372 or later, which ASUS released to address these unspecified vulnerabilities. Network administrators should disable the AiCloud feature entirely if it is not required for their operational needs, as this removes the attack surface associated with the cloud integration. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate router management interfaces from general network traffic, using strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity related to the AiCloud service. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses insecure default configurations, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all network devices remain secure against similar threats.