CVE-2016-7822 in WNC01WH
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Buffalo WNC01WH devices with firmware version 1.0.0.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of a logged in user to perform unintended operations via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2019
The CVE-2016-7822 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw identified in Buffalo WNC01WH wireless network cameras and similar devices running firmware versions 1.0.0.8 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the authentication mechanism of these networked security devices, creating a significant risk for unauthorized access and control. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the device and authenticated users, allowing malicious actors to perform operations without legitimate user consent or knowledge. The vulnerability specifically affects the device's handling of session management and request validation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where these devices are deployed for security monitoring purposes.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of incoming requests within the device's web interface. Buffet WNC01WH devices fail to properly verify the origin of requests or implement anti-CSRF tokens that would prevent unauthorized operations from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or send specially crafted requests that, when visited by an authenticated user, trigger unintended administrative actions on the device. This occurs because the device does not adequately distinguish between legitimate requests initiated by the user and those generated by malicious third parties. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and exploits the trust relationship that exists between the web interface and authenticated sessions, making it particularly insidious as it leverages existing user credentials rather than requiring additional authentication attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential complete device compromise and broader network security implications. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could gain full administrative control over the affected network camera, potentially enabling them to modify device settings, access stored video footage, change user credentials, or even use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the device or network proximity, making it particularly concerning for organizations that deploy these devices in distributed or remote locations. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through unauthorized configuration changes, and availability through potential device disruption or misuse.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7822 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation involves upgrading the firmware to versions that address the CSRF implementation flaws, which Buffalo should have released as patches for this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious CSRF requests, and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized configuration changes. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, disabling unnecessary web interfaces when not required, and conducting regular security assessments of networked devices. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and regular vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar issues in other networked devices that may be vulnerable to similar CSRF attacks.