CVE-2017-16886 in LM53Q1
Summary
by MITRE
The portal on FiberHome Mobile WIFI Device Model LM53Q1 VH519R05C01S38 uses SOAP based web services in order to interact with the portal. Unauthorized Access to Web Services via CSRF can result in an unauthorized change of username or password of the administrator of the portal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2024
The CVE-2017-16886 vulnerability affects FiberHome Mobile WIFI Device Model LM53Q1 VH519R05C01S38 which implements SOAP-based web services for portal interaction. This device employs a web service interface that allows administrative functions to be performed through SOAP requests, creating a potential attack surface that requires careful security consideration. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the portal's handling of cross-site request forgery attacks, where malicious actors can exploit the lack of proper validation mechanisms to execute unauthorized administrative actions. The device's web service implementation fails to properly authenticate or authorize requests originating from external sources, creating a significant security risk for network administrators who rely on this equipment for network management and access control.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient CSRF protection mechanisms within the SOAP web service endpoints that handle administrative functions. When an administrator performs actions through the portal interface, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate sources and contain proper authentication tokens. However, the LM53Q1 device implementation lacks these critical validation checks, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated users. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate administrative credentials through carefully constructed SOAP requests, potentially gaining complete control over the device's portal configuration. This represents a classic CSRF attack vector where the attacker exploits the trust relationship between the web service and the authenticated user session to perform unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the device's portal interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can change administrator usernames and passwords, effectively locking out legitimate users while maintaining persistent access to the device's management functions. This access level allows for configuration changes that could compromise network security, enable unauthorized network access, or facilitate further attacks on connected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects mobile WiFi devices that may be deployed in sensitive environments where unauthorized access could lead to significant security breaches or data compromise. Network administrators who rely on these devices for critical communications infrastructure face substantial risk from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16886 should focus on implementing robust CSRF protection mechanisms within the SOAP web service implementations. Organizations should ensure that all administrative web service endpoints validate request origins and implement proper session management controls to prevent unauthorized access attempts. The device firmware should be updated to include anti-CSRF tokens that are validated for each administrative request, preventing attackers from crafting malicious requests that appear legitimate. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the web service interfaces to trusted network segments only. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability relates to CWE-352 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, while ATT&CK framework references this as a privilege escalation technique under the credential access category, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that prevent unauthorized administrative access through web service interfaces.