CVE-2017-11435 in HG100R
Summary
by MITRE
The Humax Wi-Fi Router model HG100R-* 2.0.6 is prone to an authentication bypass vulnerability via specially crafted requests to the management console. The bug is exploitable remotely when the router is configured to expose the management console. The router is not validating the session token while returning answers for some methods in url '/api'. An attacker can use this vulnerability to retrieve sensitive information such as private/public IP addresses, SSID names, and passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2024
The CVE-2017-11435 vulnerability affects Humax Wi-Fi routers of the HG100R-* series running firmware version 2.0.6, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of network infrastructure devices. This vulnerability specifically targets the router's management console interface, which becomes accessible when the device is configured to expose administrative functions externally. The flaw stems from inadequate session token validation mechanisms within the router's web application programming interface, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the router's API endpoint handling, particularly at the url path '/api' where the device fails to properly validate session tokens before processing requests. This authentication failure allows attackers to craft specially formatted requests that bypass the normal authentication flow, effectively granting access to administrative functions without proper credentials. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically manifests through the router's web server component that processes management requests. According to CWE-287, this represents a classic improper authentication weakness where the system fails to adequately verify user identity before granting access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to extract comprehensive network configuration information including private and public IP addresses, wireless network identifiers, and administrative credentials. This data exposure creates significant risk for network security, as attackers can leverage the retrieved information to plan further attacks, map network topology, and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised network. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and residential deployments where routers are exposed to external networks.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which focuses on valid accounts and credential access through legitimate administrative interfaces. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance and privilege escalation activities without detection, as the compromised router's management interface appears to function normally while silently providing unauthorized access. Organizations using affected Humax routers face potential network compromise, data exfiltration, and increased attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation and session management practices that could affect similar network infrastructure devices.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from Humax to address the authentication bypass vulnerability, network segmentation to isolate affected routers from critical network segments, and implementation of network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns to the management interface. Access controls should be enforced to restrict management console access to authorized personnel only, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices. Additionally, network administrators should disable remote management access where possible and implement strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication for administrative access to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other network components.