CVE-2014-9184 in ZXDSL
Summary
by MITRE
ZTE ZXDSL 831CII allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a direct request to (1) main.cgi, (2) adminpasswd.cgi, (3) userpasswd.cgi, (4) upload.cgi, (5) conprocess.cgi, or (6) connect.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9184 affects ZTE ZXDSL 831CII broadband wireless routers and is classified as a weak authentication mechanism that allows remote attackers to bypass access controls through direct HTTP requests to specific administrative endpoints. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the router's web interface implementation, creating a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive administrative functions to unauthorized access.
The technical flaw manifests in the router's failure to properly validate authentication tokens or session identifiers when processing requests to administrative CGI scripts. Attackers can directly access endpoints such as main.cgi, adminpasswd.cgi, userpasswd.cgi, upload.cgi, conprocess.cgi, and connect.cgi without proper authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the device's built-in security mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant weakness in the router's access control implementation that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to critical router functions including password management, configuration changes, firmware uploads, and connection management. An attacker could potentially modify router settings, change administrative passwords, upload malicious firmware, or redirect network traffic, leading to complete compromise of the device and potential network infiltration. The remote nature of the attack means no physical access or local network presence is required, making it particularly dangerous for deployed network infrastructure.
This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as it allows unauthorized access to administrative functions without legitimate credentials. Organizations using ZTE ZXDSL 831CII devices should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate these devices, change default administrative credentials, and apply firmware updates from ZTE if available. Network monitoring should include detection of unauthorized access attempts to these specific CGI endpoints, and regular security audits should verify that authentication mechanisms are properly enforced. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and authentication checks in web applications, particularly in network infrastructure devices that handle sensitive administrative functions.