CVE-2015-9266 in airMAX
Summary
by MITRE
The web management interface of Ubiquiti airMAX, airFiber, airGateway and EdgeSwitch XP (formerly TOUGHSwitch) allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload and write arbitrary files using directory traversal techniques. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to gain root privileges. This vulnerability is fixed in the following product versions (fixes released in July 2015, all prior versions are affected): airMAX AC 7.1.3; airMAX M (and airRouter) 5.6.2 XM/XW/TI, 5.5.11 XM/TI, and 5.5.10u2 XW; airGateway 1.1.5; airFiber AF24/AF24HD 2.2.1, AF5x 3.0.2.1, and AF5 2.2.1; airOS 4 XS2/XS5 4.0.4; and EdgeSwitch XP (formerly TOUGHSwitch) 1.3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The CVE-2015-9266 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw in Ubiquiti's network management interfaces affecting multiple product lines including airMAX, airFiber, airGateway, and EdgeSwitch XP devices. This vulnerability exists within the web management interface components of these networking appliances, which are widely deployed in enterprise and industrial network environments. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit directory traversal techniques to upload and write arbitrary files to the affected systems, fundamentally compromising the security posture of these network devices.
This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path traversal protection mechanisms within the web interface implementation. Attackers can manipulate file upload functionality to write files to arbitrary locations on the device filesystem, potentially including system directories where critical executables and configuration files reside. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to bypass authentication requirements and execute malicious code with root privileges, effectively providing complete control over the affected network devices. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it allows attackers to establish persistent backdoors, modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or even compromise the entire network infrastructure. Network administrators managing these devices face significant risk since the vulnerability affects devices deployed in critical network operations, including wireless access points, network switches, and edge routers. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices are often deployed in environments where physical access is limited, making remote exploitation more likely and impactful. This vulnerability maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the root access to establish persistent access and execute commands.
The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the July 2015 security releases, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy deployments or those that have not applied the relevant patches. Ubiquiti's release notes indicate that specific fixed versions were provided for each affected product line, requiring careful inventory management and patch deployment across all affected devices. Organizations should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. The fix implementation requires updating firmware to the specified versions, which should be performed with proper change management procedures to avoid service disruption. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file upload patterns or unauthorized access attempts, as these may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.