CVE-2016-7824 in NC01WH
Summary
by MITRE
Buffalo NC01WH devices with firmware version 1.0.0.8 and earlier allows authenticated attackers to bypass access restriction to enable the debug option via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2016-7824 affects Buffalo NC01WH network devices running firmware versions 1.0.0.8 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the device's security posture. This issue falls under the category of insecure direct object reference vulnerabilities as defined by CWE-639, where authenticated users can exploit unspecified vectors to bypass intended access restrictions. The vulnerability specifically targets the device's debug option enabling mechanism, which should typically require elevated privileges or specific authentication mechanisms to activate. The flaw enables attackers who have already established authentication credentials to manipulate the device's configuration and potentially gain deeper system access than intended.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks within the device's firmware. When an authenticated user attempts to access the debug functionality, the system fails to properly verify whether the user possesses the necessary authorization levels or follows the correct procedural steps required to enable such sensitive features. This oversight creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can bypass normal access controls and potentially gain unauthorized access to debug interfaces that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple attack surfaces within the device's management interface or API endpoints.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security infrastructure deployments. Network administrators who rely on Buffalo NC01WH devices for their network operations may find their systems compromised if attackers exploit this vulnerability, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The debug option typically provides access to low-level system functions, diagnostic tools, and configuration parameters that could be leveraged for further attacks or data exfiltration. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as attackers can use the debug access to execute commands and escalate their privileges within the network infrastructure.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, typically firmware versions 1.0.0.9 or later as released by Buffalo. Network segmentation and monitoring of management interfaces can help detect unauthorized access attempts to debug features. Regular security audits should verify that debug options are disabled by default and only enabled when necessary for troubleshooting. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and the principle of least privilege, where even authenticated users should not have unrestricted access to sensitive system functions. Organizations should also implement network access control policies that limit management interface access to trusted networks and require multi-factor authentication for administrative access. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even devices with legitimate administrative access can become attack vectors if proper access controls and input validation mechanisms are not properly implemented and maintained.