CVE-2014-9019 in ZXDSL
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in ZTE ZXDSL 831CII allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that (1) change the admin user name or (2) conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the sysUserName parameter in a save action to adminpasswd.cgi or (3) change the admin user password via the sysPassword parameter in a save action to adminpasswd.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The CVE-2014-9019 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in ZTE ZXDSL 831CII broadband access devices that exposes administrators to significant unauthorized access risks through multiple cross-site request forgery attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative web interface of the device, which operates without proper CSRF protection mechanisms, allowing remote attackers to manipulate administrative functions through crafted malicious requests. The flaw exists within the adminpasswd.cgi script that handles user authentication parameters, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the core authentication functionality of the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms in the administrative web interface of the ZTE ZXDSL 831CII. When administrators perform actions such as changing usernames, passwords, or conducting XSS attacks through the sysUserName and sysPassword parameters, the system fails to validate the authenticity of the request origin. This lack of validation creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious web pages or exploit existing XSS vulnerabilities to execute unauthorized administrative commands. The vulnerability specifically affects the save actions within adminpasswd.cgi, which processes requests containing sensitive administrative parameters without proper request verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected devices. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can change administrative credentials, potentially locking out legitimate administrators while gaining persistent access to the device. The ability to conduct XSS attacks through the same interface creates additional attack surface where malicious scripts can be injected into the device's web interface, potentially leading to session hijacking or data exfiltration. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and authentication integrity, as it allows unauthorized users to perform administrative functions without proper authentication.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering. Organizations deploying ZTE ZXDSL 831CII devices face significant risk of unauthorized network access, potential data breaches, and complete device compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the device's core authentication mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors or modify network configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from ZTE if available, network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and implementation of network monitoring to detect unusual administrative activities. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web administration interfaces, implementing strong access controls, and regularly auditing device configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication mechanisms and input validation in network devices, particularly those with web-based administrative interfaces. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls and monitor for suspicious requests to the adminpasswd.cgi endpoint, as well as establish protocols for regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining undetected.