CVE-2014-2946 in E303
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in api/sms/send-sms in the Web UI 11.010.06.01.858 on Huawei E303 modems with software 22.157.18.00.858 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that perform API operations and send SMS messages via a request element in an XML document.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The CVE-2014-2946 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Huawei E303 modems running specific firmware versions. This vulnerability exists within the web user interface component of the device, specifically in the api/sms/send-sms endpoint that handles SMS messaging operations. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism and execute unauthorized administrative actions without proper authorization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to send SMS messages through the modem's API interface, potentially leading to unauthorized communication and service abuse. The affected firmware version 22.157.18.00.858 and web UI version 11.010.06.01.858 create a security gap where authentication tokens are not properly validated for requests originating from external sources, making the device susceptible to CSRF attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the modem's web interface. When an administrator authenticates to the device's web UI, the system should validate that subsequent requests originate from legitimate sources and contain valid anti-CSRF tokens. However, the Huawei E303 modem fails to implement adequate token validation for the SMS sending API endpoint, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability specifically targets the XML-based request structure used by the modem's API, where attackers can construct malicious XML documents containing the send-sms request element that executes with administrative privileges. This flaw operates under the common pattern described in CWE-352, which defines cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate the origin of requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized SMS sending capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform various administrative operations through the modem's API interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the device's functionality. The ability to send SMS messages programmatically enables attackers to establish command and control channels, send spam messages, or trigger emergency notifications that could disrupt services. Furthermore, since the vulnerability affects the web UI interface, it provides attackers with persistent access to the modem's administrative functions, potentially allowing them to modify network settings, change configuration parameters, or access sensitive data stored on the device. This vulnerability creates a persistent security risk for network administrators who may not be aware of the compromised device's presence within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2946 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the CSRF implementation flaw. Network administrators must ensure that all affected Huawei E303 modems are updated to versions that properly implement CSRF protection mechanisms, including the validation of anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative API endpoints. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments, limiting the potential attack surface. The deployment of web application firewalls and network monitoring tools can help detect suspicious XML requests targeting the vulnerable API endpoints. Organizations should also implement strict access controls for modem web interfaces, restricting administrative access to trusted network segments and requiring multi-factor authentication for all administrative operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, which could be leveraged by attackers to further exploit the compromised device. Security teams must also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual patterns of SMS message sending that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.