CVE-2014-4645 in DSL-2760U-E1
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in dhcpinfo.html in D-link DSL-2760U-E1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a hostname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2024
The CVE-2014-4645 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the D-link DSL-2760U-E1 router's web interface, specifically within the dhcpinfo.html component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The issue arises from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the router's administrative web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker manipulates the hostname parameter within the dhcpinfo.html page to inject malicious script code. The vulnerability stems from the router's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When the affected router processes a malicious hostname value, it fails to encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript commands, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browser of any user who views the compromised page. This flaw specifically affects the DHCP information display functionality, making it particularly insidious as it can be triggered through normal network operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and further network reconnaissance. An attacker could craft malicious hostnames that, when viewed by an authenticated user, would execute scripts to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify network configurations. The vulnerability affects the router's web-based management interface, which typically requires authentication, but the XSS flaw allows attackers to bypass certain security controls by executing code in the victim's browser context. This creates a significant risk for network administrators who may unknowingly view compromised pages while troubleshooting or monitoring their network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4645 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from D-link, as this vulnerability was addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding implementations. Network administrators should implement additional security measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, and regular monitoring of web interface access logs for unusual hostname parameters. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly in web applications that handle user-supplied data. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and implement multi-factor authentication for router management access to reduce the overall risk exposure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for credential harvesting, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive strategies that address both the immediate exploitation vector and potential post-exploitation activities.