CVE-2017-2141 in WN-G300R3
Summary
by MITRE
WN-G300R3 firmware 1.03 and earlier allows attackers with administrator rights to execute arbitrary OS commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2141 affects the WN-G300R3 wireless network gateway device running firmware version 1.03 or earlier. This represents a critical security flaw that enables authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected device. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the device's web interface or administrative API endpoints. Attackers who have already gained administrative access can leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges further or execute malicious code directly on the device's operating system, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories, which specifically address command injection flaws in software systems. The issue manifests as a classic command injection vulnerability where user-controllable input is directly passed to system execution functions without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. The device's firmware appears to inadequately filter or validate parameters submitted through its web administration interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the web server process. This weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain deeper system control over the affected network device.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2141 extends beyond simple command execution, as it can enable attackers to completely compromise the network gateway and potentially use it as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. An attacker with administrative access could use this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify network configurations, redirect traffic through malicious proxies, or even use the device as a command and control node for other compromised systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such devices often serve as the primary connection point between internal networks and external internet access, making them prime targets for lateral movement and persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 1.04 or later, which would contain the necessary patches to address the command injection flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms, and monitor for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as attackers leverage legitimate administrative credentials to exploit the weakness. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other parts of the network infrastructure.