CVE-2017-14243 in WA3002G4
Summary
by MITRE
An authentication bypass vulnerability on UTStar WA3002G4 ADSL Broadband Modem WA3002G4-0021.01 devices allows attackers to directly access administrative settings and obtain cleartext credentials from HTML source, as demonstrated by info.cgi, upload.cgi, backupsettings.cgi, pppoe.cgi, resetrouter.cgi, and password.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2024
The CVE-2017-14243 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting UTStar WA3002G4 ADSL broadband modems with firmware version WA3002G4-0021.01. This vulnerability resides in the device's web-based administrative interface implementation, where insufficient authentication checks allow unauthorized access to sensitive configuration pages. The flaw enables attackers to bypass the standard login mechanism and directly access administrative functions through specific CGI scripts that handle various modem operations and settings management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate session management and authentication validation within the modem's web server component. When users attempt to access administrative functions, the device fails to properly verify authentication status before granting access to privileged pages. This authentication bypass occurs because the system relies on client-side validation or improperly configured server-side access controls that can be easily circumvented by directly requesting specific CGI endpoints without proper authentication tokens or session verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete administrative control of the affected devices. Attackers can directly access multiple critical CGI scripts including info.cgi, upload.cgi, backupsettings.cgi, pppoe.cgi, resetrouter.cgi, and password.cgi, which provide access to sensitive system information, configuration settings, firmware upload capabilities, and credential management functions. The vulnerability particularly exposes cleartext credentials stored within HTML source code, creating a significant risk for network security and user privacy.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in web applications, and CWE-306 which covers missing authentication for critical functions. Network attackers can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over the modem's configuration, potentially enabling them to modify network settings, change administrator passwords, upload malicious firmware, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
Security implications of this vulnerability extend to broader network security concerns as these modems often serve as primary network gateways for residential and small office environments. The exposure of cleartext credentials creates opportunities for credential stuffing attacks and lateral movement within networks where the modem serves as a central point of connectivity. Organizations using these devices face potential risks including unauthorized network modifications, data exfiltration, and the establishment of persistent backdoors through firmware modifications or configuration changes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14243 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from UTStar or the device manufacturer to address the authentication bypass flaw. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices and disable unnecessary web interfaces when not required for administration. Additional protective measures include implementing strong authentication for any remaining administrative access points, monitoring network traffic for suspicious access patterns to the affected CGI scripts, and ensuring that all administrative interfaces require proper session management and authentication verification. Organizations should also consider disabling unused services and ports on these devices to reduce the attack surface and implement network access controls to restrict direct access to administrative interfaces from untrusted networks.