CVE-2013-7282 in NS-WIR300N
Summary
by MITRE
The management web interface on the Nisuta NS-WIR150NE router with firmware 5.07.41 and Nisuta NS-WIR300N router with firmware 5.07.36_NIS01 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a "Cookie: :language=en" HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2024
The CVE-2013-7282 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the management web interface of specific Nisuta router models including the NS-WIR150NE and NS-WIR300N. This vulnerability stems from improper validation of HTTP headers within the authentication mechanism, allowing remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device management interface without proper credentials. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes the "Cookie: :language=en" HTTP header, which should not contain a valid authentication token but instead enables unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability affects firmware versions 5.07.41 and 5.07.36_NIS01 respectively, indicating a widespread issue within these particular product lines that were likely deployed in both residential and small office environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the HTTP header structure where the malformed cookie value creates a bypass condition in the authentication logic. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in network applications. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in input validation where the system does not properly sanitize or verify the cookie header value, allowing an attacker to inject a specially crafted header that circumvents the normal authentication flow. The authentication bypass enables attackers to access sensitive administrative functions including configuration changes, firmware updates, and network management capabilities that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with complete administrative control over affected routers without requiring any valid credentials or prior access to the network. This creates a significant risk for network security as attackers can modify router configurations, redirect traffic, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited from outside the network perimeter, meaning that attackers do not need to be physically present or have network access to exploit the flaw. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, specifically T1566 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts. The affected devices are often deployed in environments where they serve as network gateways, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to larger networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the authentication bypass flaw. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP header patterns. Additionally, implementing proper access controls such as restricting management interface access to specific IP addresses and enabling strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication would significantly reduce the risk. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanism design in network appliances, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes before deployment. Organizations should also maintain updated inventories of all network devices and their firmware versions to quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.