CVE-2016-10108 in MyCloud NAS
Summary
by MITRE
Unauthenticated Remote Command injection as root occurs in the Western Digital MyCloud NAS 2.11.142 /web/google_analytics.php URL via a modified arg parameter in the POST data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10108 represents a critical remote command injection flaw in Western Digital MyCloud Network Attached Storage devices running firmware version 2.11.142. This vulnerability exists within the web interface component responsible for handling google analytics functionality, specifically in the /web/google_analytics.php file. The flaw allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device with root privileges without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for network-attached storage systems that often contain sensitive corporate or personal data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the web application layer. When a POST request is sent to the google_analytics.php endpoint with a modified arg parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into system commands. This classic input validation failure creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as command-line arguments, enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the command execution mechanism used by the application to process analytics data, where user input is directly concatenated into shell commands without proper escaping or filtering.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly given the nature of Network Attached Storage devices. An unauthenticated remote attacker can gain complete control over the affected MyCloud device, including the ability to access, modify, or exfiltrate all stored data, install malicious software, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The root privilege escalation aspect means that the attacker's commands execute with the highest possible system privileges, bypassing all standard user access controls and file permission mechanisms. This vulnerability effectively transforms the NAS device into a potential command and control node for broader network attacks, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's lateral movement techniques where compromised systems serve as entry points for further infiltration.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively. These weaknesses fall under the broader category of injection vulnerabilities that are consistently ranked among the top cybersecurity threats by organizations such as OWASP and NIST. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability significantly amplifies its risk profile, as it eliminates the need for initial reconnaissance or credential compromise phases that attackers typically require to gain system access. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from Western Digital, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns and ensure that all web applications follow secure coding practices that prevent user input from being directly interpreted as system commands. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous features like analytics tracking can become security gateways when not properly secured.