CVE-2015-4586 in CellPipe 7130 Router
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Alcatel-Lucent CellPipe 7130 RG 5Ae.M2013 HOL with firmware 1.0.0.20h.HOL allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that create a user account via an add_user action in a request to password.cmd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The CVE-2015-4586 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in Alcatel-Lucent CellPipe 7130 RG 5Ae.M2013 HOL firmware version 1.0.0.20h.HOL. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative interface of the network equipment, specifically within the password.cmd endpoint that handles user account management operations. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate administrative sessions without requiring valid credentials, creating a significant security risk for network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative functions of a core network device, potentially allowing unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges and control over the entire system.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the password.cmd endpoint. When administrators perform actions such as creating user accounts through the add_user action, the system fails to verify the authenticity of the request origin or validate that the request was initiated by the legitimate administrator. This design flaw allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or exploit existing network vulnerabilities to trick administrators into executing unauthorized administrative commands. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication handling mechanism, where the system accepts requests without proper session validation, making it susceptible to manipulation by remote attackers who can leverage social engineering or other attack vectors to compromise the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized account creation, as it provides attackers with potential access to the administrative interface of critical network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could create new administrative user accounts, modify existing configurations, or potentially gain complete control over the network device. This poses significant risks to network security and stability, particularly in environments where the CellPipe 7130 RG 5Ae.M2013 HOL serves as a core network component. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the device, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and service provider environments where such devices are often exposed to untrusted network segments.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities for initial access, and T1078, which covers legitimate credentials usage. Organizations using affected Alcatel-Lucent devices should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure, disabling unnecessary administrative web interfaces, and implementing proper authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and session management in network device firmware, as the lack of CSRF token verification represents a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of the device's administrative interface. Regular firmware updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in network infrastructure components.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of securing network device administrative interfaces and the potential consequences of inadequate CSRF protection in enterprise networking equipment. The affected firmware version represents a known vulnerable state that requires immediate attention from network administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining network infrastructure security.