CVE-2015-7259 in ZXV10 W300
Summary
by MITRE
ZTE ADSL ZXV10 W300 modems W300V2.1.0f_ER7_PE_O57 and W300V2.1.0h_ER7_PE_O57 allows user accounts to have multiple valid username and password pairs, which allows remote authenticated users to login to a target account via any of its username and password pairs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2024
The CVE-2015-7259 vulnerability affects ZTE ADSL ZXV10 W300 modems running specific firmware versions including W300V2.1.0f_ER7_PE_O57 and W300V2.1.0h_ER7_PE_O57. This issue represents a significant authentication flaw that undermines the security posture of these network devices. The vulnerability stems from a design weakness in the user account management system where a single user account can be associated with multiple valid username and password combinations. This configuration fundamentally weakens the authentication mechanism by allowing unauthorized access through any of the valid credential pairs associated with a particular account.
The technical flaw manifests in the modems authentication subsystem where the system fails to enforce strict credential uniqueness for user accounts. When multiple username and password pairs are configured for the same account, the authentication process accepts any valid combination rather than requiring a specific predetermined credential set. This behavior creates a dangerous situation where an attacker who discovers one valid credential pair can gain access to the account using any other valid pair associated with that same account. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the authentication service of the modem's web interface and remote management capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides remote authenticated attackers with increased access privileges and attack surface. An attacker who gains access to any valid credential pair for a user account can leverage the system to access sensitive network configurations, modify settings, or potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability affects both the web-based management interface and remote access capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on these modems for internet connectivity. This issue directly violates security principles of least privilege and credential management, creating multiple entry points for unauthorized access.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. From an attack perspective, this weakness maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1110 - Brute Force and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can exploit the multiple credential pairs to gain unauthorized access. Organizations using these modems face increased risk of unauthorized network access, potential data breaches, and compromise of the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege as the system does not properly enforce authentication boundaries. Remediation requires firmware updates from ZTE that address the credential management implementation, along with proper configuration practices that ensure unique credential sets for each user account.
Security best practices recommend immediate firmware updates to address this vulnerability, along with implementation of strong access controls and monitoring of authentication attempts. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to identify and mitigate similar authentication weaknesses in their infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper credential management and authentication design in network devices, particularly those with remote access capabilities.