CVE-2016-10863 in Wi-Fi Extender
Summary
by MITRE
Edimax Wi-Fi Extender devices allow goform/formwlencryptvxd CSRF with resultant PSK key disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The CVE-2016-10863 vulnerability affects Edimax Wi-Fi Extender devices and represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthorized disclosure of pre-shared keys. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of affected devices and specifically targets the goform/formwlencryptvxd component which handles wireless network encryption configuration. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the device's wireless security settings through crafted malicious requests without requiring authentication or valid session tokens.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability exploits the lack of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the device's web management interface. When a user visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can trigger unauthorized configuration changes to the Wi-Fi extender's wireless security parameters. The vulnerability specifically impacts the wireless encryption key management functionality, allowing attackers to extract or modify the pre-shared key used for wireless network authentication. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the device's security model where legitimate administrative functions can be executed by unauthorized parties through social engineering or malicious web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security of wireless networks protected by these devices. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to the wireless network password, potentially enabling further network infiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, or unauthorized access to connected devices. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain secure wireless communications and undermines the trust model that users expect from network security equipment. This flaw particularly impacts enterprise and residential networks where these devices are commonly deployed, as it allows attackers to compromise wireless security without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10863 should focus on immediate firmware updates from Edimax to address the CSRF implementation flaw and proper token validation mechanisms. Network administrators should implement additional security measures including network segmentation, wireless network monitoring, and regular security audits of connected devices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352 which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS and T1566.001 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and network access controls to prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerability while ensuring proper device patch management protocols are maintained across all network infrastructure components.