CVE-2017-6531 in COAXDATA GATEWAY 1Gbps
Summary
by MITRE
On Televes COAXDATA GATEWAY 1Gbps devices doc-wifi-hgw_v1.02.0014 4.20, the backup/restore feature lacks access control, related to ReadFile.cgi and LoadCfgFile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6531 affects Televes COAXDATA GATEWAY 1Gbps devices running firmware version doc-wifi-hgw_v1020014 420 where the backup and restore functionality contains a critical access control flaw. This issue specifically manifests in the ReadFile.cgi and LoadCfgFile components of the device's web interface, which are designed to handle configuration file operations. The absence of proper authentication checks in these functions creates a significant security risk that allows unauthorized users to access sensitive system configuration data and potentially modify device settings without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the device's web server component. When users attempt to access the ReadFile.cgi and LoadCfgFile endpoints, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges before allowing access to configuration files. This design flaw directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE-284 category, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities, and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploiting weaknesses in remote services. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain access to sensitive configuration data that would typically be restricted to authorized administrators only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more severe attacks including configuration manipulation, privilege escalation, and system compromise. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability could extract complete device configuration files containing sensitive information such as network credentials, system parameters, and potentially other confidential data that could be used to launch further attacks against the network infrastructure. The device's role as a gateway component makes this particularly dangerous as it could provide attackers with insights into network topology and potentially enable them to establish persistent access points within the network. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which mandate proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for critical network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6531 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Televes to address the access control deficiencies in the affected devices. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices to authorized personnel only, and consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to the affected endpoints. Additionally, administrators should disable unnecessary web services and ensure that only essential configuration files are accessible through the web interface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authentication checks in embedded systems, reinforcing the need for security-by-design principles in network infrastructure devices. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their network equipment to identify similar access control weaknesses that could potentially be exploited in similar fashion.