CVE-2014-4727 in WDR4300
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the DHCP clients page in the TP-LINK N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router (TL-WDR4300) with firmware before 140916 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the hostname in a DHCP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2022
The CVE-2014-4727 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in TP-LINK's TL-WDR4300 wireless router model, specifically affecting firmware versions prior to 140916. This vulnerability resides within the DHCP clients page of the router's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it allows remote attackers to execute malicious code through carefully crafted DHCP requests. The flaw specifically targets the hostname parameter within DHCP packets, which the router fails to properly sanitize before displaying in the web interface. This oversight creates a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers positioned within the same network segment or through man-in-the-middle attacks that can manipulate DHCP communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. Attackers can craft malicious DHCP requests containing specially formatted hostname values that include embedded JavaScript code or HTML tags. When the router processes these requests and displays the hostname information in the DHCP clients page, the malicious code executes within the context of a user's browser session. This creates a dangerous scenario where authenticated users viewing the router's web interface become victims of the XSS attack, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within network environments. According to ATT&CK framework concepts, this vulnerability enables initial access and privilege escalation within local networks, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent presence on the network. The router's web interface serves as a central management point for network configuration, making successful exploitation particularly valuable for attackers seeking to maintain control over network infrastructure. Additionally, the vulnerability affects a widely deployed consumer-grade device, increasing the potential attack surface and making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4727 should focus on firmware updates as the primary defense mechanism, with network administrators prioritizing immediate firmware upgrades to versions containing proper input sanitization for DHCP hostname parameters. Beyond patching, network segmentation and monitoring can help detect anomalous DHCP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in network device interfaces, particularly for web-based management systems that handle data from untrusted sources. Organizations should implement regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure devices and maintain updated firmware management procedures to prevent similar issues in other network equipment. Security controls should also include monitoring for suspicious web content within router management interfaces and implementing network access controls that limit exposure to potentially malicious DHCP servers.