CVE-2017-5260 in cnPilot
Summary
by MITRE
In versions 4.3.2-R4 and prior of Cambium Networks cnPilot firmware, although the option to access the configuration file is not available in the normal web administrative console for the 'user' account, the configuration file is accessible via direct object reference (DRO) at http://<device-ip-or-hostname>/goform/down_cfg_file by this otherwise low privilege 'user' account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5260 affects Cambium Networks cnPilot firmware versions 4.3.2-R4 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the device. This issue stems from improper authorization controls within the web-based administrative interface, where the system fails to adequately enforce privilege boundaries for different user roles. The configuration file, which contains sensitive device settings, credentials, and operational parameters, is exposed through a direct object reference mechanism that bypasses normal authentication checks. This flaw allows any user account, regardless of its privilege level, to access critical system configuration data through a predictable URL endpoint, effectively creating a backdoor for unauthorized access to device internals.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a direct object reference vulnerability, classified under CWE-284, where the application provides direct access to objects based on user-supplied input without proper authorization checks. The specific endpoint http://<device-ip-or-hostname>/goform/down_cfg_file serves as the attack vector, allowing a low-privilege user account to retrieve the complete configuration file through simple HTTP GET requests. This vulnerability represents a classic case of inadequate access control enforcement, where the system's authorization model fails to validate whether the requesting user has legitimate rights to access the requested resource. The flaw exists because the firmware's web interface does not properly verify user privileges before serving configuration files, relying instead on the assumption that the URL structure itself provides sufficient security through obscurity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as the configuration file contains potentially sensitive data including administrative credentials, network settings, wireless configurations, and other system parameters that could be exploited by attackers. An attacker with access to a user account could leverage this vulnerability to gain comprehensive knowledge of the device's configuration, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities such as credential reuse attacks, network reconnaissance, or privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the device, as it allows any authenticated user to access the same configuration data that should only be available to administrative users. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on role-based access controls to maintain security boundaries, as the system's security model is effectively bypassed through this single vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access control enforcement and removing or securing direct object references that bypass normal authorization checks. Organizations should immediately upgrade to firmware versions that address this vulnerability, as Cambium Networks has released patches to correct the improper authorization controls. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration endpoints and consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as implementing proper input validation, enforcing least privilege access controls, and avoiding reliance on URL structure for security enforcement. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access techniques, as it allows attackers to obtain sensitive configuration data that could be used for further compromise of the affected systems.