CVE-2017-6230 in Solo AP
Summary
by MITRE
Ruckus Networks Solo APs firmware releases R110.x or before and Ruckus Networks SZ managed APs firmware releases R5.x or before contain authenticated Root Command Injection in the web-GUI that could allow authenticated valid users to execute privileged commands on the respective systems.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6230 affects Ruckus Networks Solo and SZ managed access points with firmware versions prior to R110.x and R5.x respectively. This represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the affected devices. The vulnerability resides within the web-based graphical user interface of these wireless access points, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browser interactions. The flaw enables a legitimate user with valid credentials to escalate their privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected access point.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the web-GUI components of the Ruckus access point firmware. When authenticated users submit commands through the web interface, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters before executing them on the underlying operating system. This classic command injection vulnerability allows an attacker to append malicious commands to legitimate operations, effectively bypassing normal access controls and executing privileged operations. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw under CWE-77, which specifically addresses situations where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to wireless network security and integrity. An authenticated attacker who gains access to the web interface of an affected access point can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise as access points serve as critical network infrastructure components that can provide attackers with persistent access points within the network. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or use the compromised access point as a launching point for attacks against other network segments. The vulnerability affects both standalone Solo APs and managed SZ APs, indicating a widespread issue across Ruckus Networks product lines.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating firmware to versions that contain the necessary security patches. The remediation process requires careful planning as access point firmware updates may require service windows and could potentially impact network availability during the update process. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation to limit the impact if an access point is compromised, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and remediate similar issues within the wireless infrastructure.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in embedded systems and network infrastructure devices. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation gaps can lead to critical privilege escalation vulnerabilities that can compromise entire network segments. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures to limit the scope of potential exploitation and establish robust change management processes for firmware updates to ensure timely patch deployment. The vulnerability underscores the need for continuous security monitoring and incident response capabilities to detect and respond to exploitation attempts against critical network infrastructure components.