CVE-2017-5900 in NB16WV-02
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the NetComm NB16WV-02 router with firmware NB16WV_R0.09 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the S801F0334 parameter to hdd.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
The CVE-2017-5900 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the NetComm NB16WV-02 router firmware version NB16WV_R0.09. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a prevalent web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the router's web-based management interface, making it accessible to authenticated users who can exploit the flaw through a targeted parameter injection attack. The affected parameter S801F0334 within the hdd.htm page serves as the entry point for this particular XSS attack vector, demonstrating how seemingly innocuous configuration parameters can become security gateways when proper input validation is absent.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user to access the router's administrative interface, which presents a significant operational concern as it reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities. However, the impact remains severe since the attacker already possesses valid credentials to access the router's management functions. The flaw allows the injection of arbitrary web script or HTML code, which can execute within the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected page. This creates a potential for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites, effectively compromising the integrity of the router's web interface and potentially leading to broader network compromise through the exploitation of other router functions. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the injected scripts can be used to execute arbitrary commands or manipulate the router's functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains where the malicious scripts can persistently compromise user sessions or redirect users to phishing sites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors through the router's web interface, potentially allowing them to maintain access even after the initial compromise. The presence of this vulnerability in a network device management interface creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on these devices for network security, as the compromised router could become a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability also demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly in network device management interfaces where administrative privileges are involved. Security practitioners should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that router firmware is regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities. Organizations using this specific router model should conduct immediate security assessments and implement additional authentication controls to limit access to the administrative interface, as the vulnerability requires only authenticated access to be exploited.