CVE-2015-7284 in NBG-418N
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability on ZyXEL NBG-418N devices with firmware 1.00(AADZ.3)C0 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2015-7284 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting ZyXEL NBG-418N wireless routers running firmware version 1.00(AADZ.3)C0. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative interface of the device, creating a significant security risk that enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism without requiring valid credentials. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the router's web administration portal, allowing malicious actors to craft crafted HTTP requests that appear to originate from authenticated users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where the application does not adequately validate the origin of requests, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to manipulate router configurations. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the device's web interface, potentially enabling attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows remote exploitation without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials, making it accessible to attackers anywhere on the internet. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various means including web-based attacks. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with the ability to modify network settings, alter firewall rules, change administrator passwords, and potentially redirect traffic to malicious destinations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the network, create backdoors, or redirect users to phishing sites, effectively compromising the entire network security posture. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need to be on the same network segment as the device, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such devices might be exposed to external traffic. The absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in the router's web interface creates a fundamental flaw in the security architecture, allowing attackers to hijack legitimate user sessions and perform administrative functions. This vulnerability demonstrates a critical oversight in the device's development lifecycle, where security controls were not properly implemented or tested for web-based administrative interfaces. The implications of this vulnerability are severe as it undermines the trust model of the device's authentication system, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the router's configuration and network traffic management. Organizations using affected ZyXEL NBG-418N devices are at risk of unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it attractive to both sophisticated attackers and script kiddies. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability exists in the device's web interface authentication flow and represents a failure to implement proper session management and request validation. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through various means including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised network traffic, making it difficult to defend against through traditional network monitoring approaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7284 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from ZyXEL to address the CSRF vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments, while also deploying network access controls and firewalls to restrict access to the router's administrative ports. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected ZyXEL devices within their network infrastructure. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting the CSRF vulnerability. Network administrators should also enforce strict access controls for router administrative interfaces, limiting access to authorized personnel only and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the vulnerability has been properly remediated. Additionally, organizations should maintain updated inventories of all network devices and their firmware versions to quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms in all web-based applications and administrative interfaces, particularly those handling sensitive network configuration data.