CVE-2014-9510 in TL-WR840N
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the administration console in TP-Link TL-WR840N (V1) router with firmware before 3.13.27 build 141120 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that change router settings via a configuration file import.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2018
The CVE-2014-9510 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in TP-Link TL-WR840N (V1) routers running firmware versions prior to 3.13.27 build 141120. This vulnerability exists within the administration console of the device and specifically targets the configuration file import functionality. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate administrative sessions and execute unauthorized configuration changes without proper authentication. The vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery as a fundamental web security weakness where the application fails to validate the origin of requests. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network device contexts because it can enable attackers to completely compromise router configurations and potentially gain persistent access to network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs through the administration console's handling of configuration file imports. When administrators access the router's web interface to import settings, the system does not adequately validate whether the request originates from an authenticated administrative session. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing web content to submit configuration import requests that modify router settings. These requests appear legitimate to the router because they contain valid administrative session tokens, allowing unauthorized modifications to be executed with administrative privileges. The vulnerability is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between the web interface and legitimate administrative users, making detection difficult for both administrators and security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it can enable complete network compromise. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can modify firewall rules, change administrator passwords, disable security features, redirect traffic, and potentially install malicious firmware. The ability to import configuration files means that attackers can execute arbitrary commands or modify critical router parameters that affect network security and availability. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1072, which covers "Software Deployment Tools" and can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistence within network environments. The long-term implications include potential data exfiltration, network traffic interception, and complete loss of administrative control over the affected device.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9510 primarily focus on firmware updates and administrative controls. The most effective solution is upgrading to firmware version 3.13.27 build 141120 or later, which implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as disabling remote administration when possible, restricting access to the administrative interface to trusted IP ranges, and implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and request validation in web applications, particularly in embedded network devices where security updates may be infrequent. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and firmware update policies are essential to protect against similar CSRF vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.