CVE-2017-11169 in iB-WRA300N3GT
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege Escalation on iBall iB-WRA300N3GT iB-WRA300N3GT_1.1.1 devices allows remote authenticated users to obtain root privileges by leveraging a guest/user/normal account to submit a modified privilege parameter to /form2userconfig.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-11169 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting iBall iB-WRA300N3GT wireless routers running firmware version 1.1.1. This issue resides in the web-based management interface of the device, specifically within the /form2userconfig.cgi script that handles user configuration parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that fail to properly verify the privileges of users attempting to modify system settings. Remote authenticated users who have access to a guest, user, or normal account can exploit this weakness by crafting and submitting a modified privilege parameter through the vulnerable CGI endpoint. The flaw essentially allows attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to root access without requiring additional authentication or administrative credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The device's authentication mechanism appears to validate user credentials correctly but fails to enforce proper authorization checks when processing requests to modify user configurations. The /form2userconfig.cgi script likely accepts privilege parameters directly from HTTP POST requests without validating whether the requesting user has sufficient permissions to modify such settings. This creates an exploitable path where an authenticated user can manipulate the privilege level parameter to escalate their access rights. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal prerequisites - only an authenticated account with normal user privileges is needed to attempt the exploitation, making it accessible to a broad range of potential attackers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security and device integrity. Once successfully exploited, attackers gain complete administrative control over the router, enabling them to modify network configurations, disable security features, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the local network without requiring physical access or additional network reconnaissance. The impact extends beyond individual devices to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, as routers often serve as central points of control for network traffic and security policies. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly in the areas of access control and system integrity.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to the latest firmware version from iBall that contains patches for this privilege escalation flaw. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Access control policies should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to network management interfaces, and multi-factor authentication should be implemented where possible. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting user accounts to the minimum necessary permissions required for their operational functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authorization checking in web applications, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks, particularly focusing on authentication and session management flaws that can lead to privilege escalation attacks.