CVE-2016-10183 in DWR-932B
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on the D-Link DWR-932B router. qmiweb allows directory listing with ../ traversal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10183 affects the D-Link DWR-932B router model and represents a classic directory traversal flaw that exposes sensitive system files through improper input validation. This issue resides within the qmiweb component of the router's web interface, which handles communication with the mobile broadband modem through the QMI protocol. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with access to the router's web management interface to exploit path traversal techniques using the ../ directory traversal sequence, enabling them to navigate beyond the intended web root directory and access restricted files on the device's file system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the qmiweb module, which processes user-supplied parameters without proper validation of directory paths. When an attacker submits a malicious path containing ../ sequences through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs, allowing the traversal to occur and potentially expose system configuration files, authentication credentials, or other sensitive data stored on the router's file system. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in input validation and access control mechanisms within the router's web application framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system components that could lead to further exploitation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to configuration files that might contain passwords, network settings, or other sensitive information that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The exposure of system files could also enable attackers to understand the router's internal architecture and potentially identify additional vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the device's security implementation. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home networks where D-Link DWR-932B routers are deployed, as it could be exploited by attackers who have gained initial access to the network through other means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided firmware update that addresses this directory traversal flaw, as D-Link released patches specifically targeting this vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the router's web management interface to trusted IP addresses only, implementing network segmentation to isolate critical network infrastructure, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns or attempts to traverse directories within the router's web interface. From a broader security perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent directory traversal attempts and regularly audit their network devices for similar vulnerabilities through comprehensive security assessments and penetration testing.