CVE-2017-11646 in 4GT101W
Summary
by MITRE
NetComm Wireless 4GT101W routers with Hardware: 0.01 / Software: V1.1.8.8 / Bootloader: 1.1.3 are vulnerable to CSRF attacks, as demonstrated by using administration.html to disable the firewall. They does not contain any token that can mitigate CSRF vulnerabilities within the device.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2019
The CVE-2017-11646 vulnerability affects NetComm Wireless 4GT101W routers running specific firmware versions including hardware revision 0.01, software version V1.1.8.8, and bootloader version 1.1.3. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the router's administrative security controls and exposes network infrastructure to unauthorized manipulation. The vulnerability specifically targets the absence of anti-cross-site request forgery mechanisms within the router's web administration interface, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the router's web administration interface located at administration.html which lacks any form of anti-CSRF token validation. This absence allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or phishing sites that can automatically submit administrative commands to the vulnerable router without user consent or authentication. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the router's security posture by enabling unauthorized modification of critical network settings. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic cross-site request forgery vulnerability where the web application fails to verify the origin of requests, making it susceptible to attacks that manipulate the application state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to disable critical firewall protections and potentially gain full administrative control over the router. When the firewall is disabled through the CSRF attack, the router becomes vulnerable to various network-based attacks including unauthorized access, man-in-the-middle attacks, and potential network infiltration. The vulnerability affects not only the local network security but also the broader internet connectivity as compromised routers can serve as entry points for attackers to conduct further reconnaissance and attacks against connected devices. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from the manufacturer to address the CSRF implementation flaw, though users should verify that the updated firmware properly implements anti-CSRF tokens. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting administrative access to trusted IP addresses, disabling remote administration when possible, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and request origin verification in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten categories and the principle of least privilege in system design. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices and establish robust patch management processes to address similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure equipment.