CVE-2014-9020 in ZXDSL
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Quick Stats page (psilan.cgi) in ZTE ZXDSL 831 and 831CII allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the domainname parameter in a save action. NOTE: this issue was SPLIT from CVE-2014-9021 per ADT1 due to different affected products and codebases.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9020 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ZTE ZXDSL 831 and 831CII broadband access devices. This security weakness specifically affects the Quick Stats page component known as psilan.cgi, which serves as a management interface for monitoring network statistics. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application layer of these telecommunications devices, creating a persistent security gap that enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the domainname parameter during a save action operation on the affected web interface. When a remote attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML code and submits it through this parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the user-supplied data before incorporating it into the web page response. This processing error creates an XSS vector that allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the Quick Stats page, potentially executing malicious code in the browser of any user who views the compromised page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the device management interface. Since these devices are typically deployed in network infrastructure environments, successful exploitation could provide attackers with unauthorized access to network monitoring data, device configuration parameters, and potentially serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network perimeter. The vulnerability affects both the ZXDSL 831 and 831CII models, which are widely deployed in enterprise and residential broadband access scenarios, amplifying the potential impact across numerous network installations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, as attackers can leverage the XSS capability to execute malicious scripts. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in network infrastructure devices where administrative interfaces are exposed to potentially untrusted users. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected firmware versions, implementing proper input sanitization, and applying network segmentation controls to limit access to these management interfaces.
The vulnerability classification as a persistent XSS flaw indicates that the malicious code injection occurs server-side and remains stored within the device's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time. This characteristic distinguishes it from reflected XSS vulnerabilities and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of web interfaces in network equipment. The split from CVE-2014-9021 reflects the distinct codebases and product lines affected, demonstrating the complexity of vulnerability management in telecommunications equipment where similar issues may exist across different device families. Network administrators should prioritize updating these devices to patched firmware versions and consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against such attacks.