CVE-2017-2234 in Home Gateway HEM-GW16A
Summary
by MITRE
Toshiba Home gateway HEM-GW16A firmware HEM-GW16A-FW-V1.2.0 and earlier, Toshiba Home gateway HEM-GW26A firmware HEM-GW26A-FW-V1.2.0 and earlier may allow remote attackers to access a non-documented developer screen to perform operations on device with administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2234 affects Toshiba Home gateway devices including models HEM-GW16A and HEM-GW26A with firmware versions up to and including V1.2.0. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes a hidden administrative interface within the device firmware, creating an unauthorized access vector that could be exploited by remote attackers. The presence of non-documented developer screens in consumer-grade networking equipment violates fundamental security principles and demonstrates poor security engineering practices in the device's development lifecycle.
The technical flaw manifests through the inclusion of undocumented administrative interfaces within the firmware that remain accessible without proper authentication mechanisms. These interfaces typically provide full administrative control over the device, including configuration modifications, network settings changes, and potentially access to connected network resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the web interface, allowing unauthorized remote exploitation without requiring legitimate credentials or authentication. This type of flaw is categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to gain full administrative privileges on affected devices without any authentication. Once exploited, attackers can modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the local network. The compromised device could serve as a launching pad for broader network infiltration, potentially affecting other connected devices and systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as attackers can leverage the administrative interface to execute commands and escalate their privileges within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from Toshiba to address the vulnerability, as well as network segmentation to limit the potential impact of device compromise. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and consider disabling unnecessary administrative interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure development practices and proper security testing during the device development lifecycle, emphasizing the need for principle of least privilege implementation and thorough access control validation. Regular security audits of network infrastructure and prompt patch management procedures are essential to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.