CVE-2014-8653 in CG6640E Wireless Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Compal Broadband Networks (CBN) CH6640E and CG6640E Wireless Gateway 1.0 with firmware CH6640-3.5.11.7-NOSH allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the userData cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The CVE-2014-8653 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Compal Broadband Networks CBN CH6640E and CG6640E Wireless Gateway devices running firmware version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the device's handling of the userData cookie parameter, creating a significant security risk for users of these network appliances. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web interface of these wireless gateways, which are commonly deployed in residential and small office environments. These devices serve as the primary gateway between home networks and the internet, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to compromise user systems and data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the userData cookie parameter, which is processed by the device's web-based management interface. When an attacker crafts a malicious cookie value containing embedded script code, the vulnerable device fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it within the web interface. This allows arbitrary JavaScript code to execute within the context of the victim's browser session, enabling attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on the affected device. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS flaw, where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the device's web interface without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks against the compromised network. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to the device's administrative interface, modify network settings, redirect traffic, or even install malicious firmware. This represents a significant threat to network security since the wireless gateway serves as the central point of control for the entire home or small office network. The vulnerability affects users who may not be technically sophisticated, as the attack vector requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in residential environments where network security is often overlooked.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the importance of input validation in web-based interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers could use the XSS capability to redirect users to malicious domains or craft convincing phishing pages. The vulnerability also relates to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as the exploitation relies on JavaScript execution within the victim's browser context. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization, which are fundamental requirements for secure web application development.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates from Compal Broadband Networks, which would address the input validation issues in the userData cookie handling. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, using network segmentation to isolate critical devices, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious cookie values. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar issues in other network appliances, as this type of vulnerability is common in embedded web interfaces. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites while connected to networks protected by vulnerable gateways, and should be encouraged to change default administrative credentials and enable two-factor authentication where available.