CVE-2017-10677 in EA4500
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) exists on Linksys EA4500 devices with Firmware Version before 2.1.41.164606, as demonstrated by a request to apply.cgi to disable SIP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2019
The CVE-2017-10677 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Linksys EA4500 wireless routers running firmware versions prior to 2.1.41.164606. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, making it a well-documented and severe security weakness in web application design. The flaw enables unauthorized attackers to perform administrative actions on the affected devices without proper authentication, creating a significant risk for network security and device management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the apply.cgi web interface endpoint of the router's web management system. When an attacker crafts a malicious request to this endpoint with specific parameters designed to disable SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) functionality, the router processes the request without validating the user's authorization status. This lack of proper authentication verification and request origin validation creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate router settings remotely. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to execute administrative commands that can fundamentally alter router behavior and network configuration.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to encompass potential complete network compromise. By disabling SIP functionality, attackers can disrupt VoIP services and potentially gain deeper access to the router's administrative interface. This vulnerability demonstrates how embedded web interfaces in network devices can become attack vectors when proper security controls are absent. The affected firmware versions suggest that this was a widespread issue affecting numerous devices in both consumer and small business environments, where router administrators may not have been regularly updating firmware.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1071.1, which addresses 'Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols'. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or credentials from the attacker, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns. Network administrators should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to version 2.1.41.164606 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of secure web application development practices in embedded systems. Many IoT and networking devices suffer from similar CSRF flaws due to insufficient input validation and authentication checks in their web interfaces. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that administrative web interfaces in network equipment must implement robust CSRF protection mechanisms, including the use of anti-forgery tokens and proper referer header validation. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with unauthorized access to critical network components.