CVE-2016-1167 in Aterm WG300HP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability on NEC Aterm WG300HP devices allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2019
The CVE-2016-1167 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in NEC Aterm WG300HP wireless gateway devices. This vulnerability resides within the device's web-based administration interface and stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions by tricking authenticated users into performing malicious operations through crafted web requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the device's authentication handling process where session tokens are not adequately validated against request origins, creating a pathway for attackers to hijack active user sessions and assume administrative control over the device.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability exploits the fundamental weakness in the device's web application security architecture. When a user accesses the administration interface, the device issues session cookies that are not properly tied to the specific origin of requests. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or embed malicious scripts that, when executed by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable device's administration endpoints. The device fails to validate that incoming requests originate from legitimate sources, allowing attackers to leverage the user's existing authenticated session to perform administrative functions without requiring knowledge of the user's credentials. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which specifically addresses the risk of unauthorized commands being executed on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, creating significant security risks for network infrastructure. Once exploited, attackers can gain full administrative control over the NEC Aterm WG300HP device, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, change administrator passwords, disable security features, or redirect network traffic. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the device or network proximity to exploit the vulnerability. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can compromise network infrastructure from anywhere on the internet, potentially leading to complete network takeover. The vulnerability also impacts the device's ability to maintain secure communications and can serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network perimeter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1167 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the device's web interface, ensuring that each request contains a unique, unpredictable token that ties the request to the originating session. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as enforcing HTTPS for all administrative interfaces, implementing proper session management protocols, and regularly updating device firmware to address known vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities in other network devices, as this attack vector remains prevalent in many legacy network appliances. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, highlighting the importance of both account security and user education in preventing exploitation. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control measures can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.