CVE-2016-10107 in MyCloud NAS
Summary
by MITRE
Unauthenticated Remote Command injection as root occurs in the Western Digital MyCloud NAS 2.11.142 index.php page via a modified Cookie header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2016-10107 represents a critical remote command injection flaw in Western Digital MyCloud Network Attached Storage devices running firmware version 2.11.142. This security weakness allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device with root privileges without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for networked storage environments. The vulnerability manifests through manipulation of the Cookie header parameter in the index.php web interface, exploiting improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the device's web application layer.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the web application's failure to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input from the Cookie header before processing it in system commands. When the MyCloud device processes the modified cookie value, it directly incorporates this unvalidated input into shell execution contexts, creating a classic command injection vulnerability. This vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses Command Injection flaws where user-controllable data is passed to system commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires no authentication credentials, allowing remote exploitation from any network location.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to the device itself. Attackers with successful exploitation can gain complete control over the NAS device, including the ability to read, modify, or delete all stored data, access sensitive files, install malicious software, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The root privilege escalation aspect means that even if network segmentation is implemented, the compromised device can serve as a foothold for lateral movement and broader network infiltration. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as it enables both remote command execution and persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10107 require immediate firmware updates from Western Digital to address the underlying input validation issues and patch the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical NAS devices from other network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious cookie header patterns. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web services, implementing strict firewall rules that restrict access to the device's web interface, and conducting regular security audits of networked storage devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure input validation practices and proper sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly in web applications that interact with system-level commands. Network administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.