CVE-2016-1558 in DAP-2310
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in D-Link DAP-2310 2.06 and earlier, DAP-2330 1.06 and earlier, DAP-2360 2.06 and earlier, DAP-2553 H/W ver. B1 3.05 and earlier, DAP-2660 1.11 and earlier, DAP-2690 3.15 and earlier, DAP-2695 1.16 and earlier, DAP-3320 1.00 and earlier, and DAP-3662 1.01 and earlier allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted 'dlink_uid' cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1558 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple D-Link wireless access point models including the DAP-2310, DAP-2330, DAP-2360, DAP-2553, DAP-2660, DAP-2690, DAP-2695, DAP-3320, and DAP-3662. This vulnerability resides in the web interface handling of the dlink_uid cookie parameter, which fails to properly validate input length before processing. The affected firmware versions range from 2.06 down to 1.00 across various device models, indicating a widespread issue affecting D-Link's wireless networking infrastructure products. The buffer overflow condition occurs when the system attempts to store user-provided data in a fixed-size memory buffer without adequate bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the dlink_uid cookie parameter within the device's authentication and session management mechanisms. When a malicious actor crafts a specially formatted cookie value exceeding the allocated buffer size, the system's memory management routines become corrupted, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution or system compromise. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the affected devices, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and residential networking environments where these access points are commonly deployed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system compromise, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to the affected wireless access points. This could lead to complete network infiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability may allow for various malicious outcomes including system crashes, unauthorized configuration changes, or complete device takeover. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploitation of remote services for privilege escalation and persistent access. Network administrators face significant risk as these devices often serve as primary entry points into corporate or residential networks, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking lateral movement opportunities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1558 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from D-Link, as the vendor has released patches addressing this specific buffer overflow condition. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected D-Link devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact if devices remain unpatched, while also monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts or unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider deploying network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed cookie values and anomalous traffic patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing secure configuration practices including disabling unnecessary services and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms can reduce the overall attack surface and limit the potential impact of this vulnerability. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar buffer overflow conditions do not exist in other network infrastructure components, maintaining a robust security posture against evolving threats.