CVE-2015-2984 in WN-G54
Summary
by MITRE
I-O DATA DEVICE WN-G54/R2 routers with firmware before 1.03 and NP-BBRS routers allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (SSDP reflection) via UPnP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2984 affects I-O DATA DEVICE WN-G54/R2 routers and NP-BBRS devices running firmware versions prior to 1.03. This security flaw represents a significant concern in network infrastructure devices as it enables remote attackers to exploit the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) functionality to initiate SSDP reflection attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the router's handling of UPnP requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt network services through amplification techniques.
The technical flaw resides in the improper implementation of UPnP protocols within these router firmware versions, where the devices fail to adequately validate or rate-limit incoming UPnP requests. This weakness allows attackers to send spoofed packets to the router's UPnP service, which then reflects responses to victim addresses through the Simple Service Discovery Protocol. The vulnerability operates at the network layer and leverages the inherent design of UPnP to amplify attack traffic, making it particularly dangerous for denial of service scenarios. The flaw is classified under CWE-400 as an unspecified vulnerability in resource management, specifically in the handling of network service requests and response mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited to create massive traffic amplification attacks that overwhelm network resources. Attackers can leverage the UPnP functionality to reflect SSDP packets from multiple sources, potentially generating traffic volumes that far exceed the original attack payload. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive for distributed denial of service attacks where the attacker can use compromised routers as amplifiers to target other systems. The attack vector requires no authentication or specialized knowledge, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. Network administrators may experience significant service degradation or complete outages as the reflected traffic consumes bandwidth and processing resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2984 should prioritize firmware updates to version 1.03 or later, which contain patches addressing the UPnP request handling vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the exposure of affected devices by restricting UPnP functionality to trusted network segments. Implementing rate limiting and packet filtering rules on network boundaries can reduce the effectiveness of SSDP reflection attacks by blocking suspicious traffic patterns. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual UPnP traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts to router management interfaces. Organizations should also consider disabling UPnP functionality entirely on network devices when it is not required for legitimate business operations, aligning with the principle of least privilege and reducing attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing proper network security controls as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards.