CVE-2017-10676 in DIR-600M
Summary
by MITRE
On D-Link DIR-600M devices before C1_v3.05ENB01_beta_20170306, XSS was found in the form2userconfig.cgi username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10676 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in D-Link DIR-600M wireless routers running firmware versions prior to C1_v3.05ENB01_beta_20170306. This vulnerability resides within the form2userconfig.cgi web interface component which handles user configuration parameters, specifically targeting the username field. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the router's web administration interface through improperly sanitized input validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the router's web server component. When users submit configuration data through the web interface, the username parameter fails to properly filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browser sessions who access the router's administration interface. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which classifies this as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable input before incorporating it into dynamically generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates potential for session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation of the router's administrative interface. An attacker could craft a malicious link that, when clicked by an authenticated user, would execute scripts to steal session cookies or modify router configurations. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to trick administrators into visiting malicious web pages or clicking on compromised links that contain the XSS payload. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it leverages JavaScript execution within the browser context of the web interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the input validation shortcomings in the affected router models. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, employ web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and conduct regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and the importance of updating firmware promptly can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor oversights in code can create significant security risks within network infrastructure devices that are often overlooked in traditional security assessments.