CVE-2017-7398 in DIR-615
Summary
by MITRE
D-Link DIR-615 HW: T1 FW:20.09 is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability. This enables an attacker to perform an unwanted action on a wireless router for which the user/admin is currently authenticated, as demonstrated by changing the Security option from WPA2 to None, or changing the hiddenSSID parameter, SSID parameter, or a security-option password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2024
The CVE-2017-7398 vulnerability affects D-Link DIR-615 wireless routers with hardware version T1 and firmware version 20.09, presenting a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that undermines the security posture of network infrastructure devices. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of the router, where insufficient validation mechanisms fail to properly authenticate and verify the origin of administrative requests. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute unauthorized actions against the affected device without requiring user credentials, exploiting the trust relationship between the router and authenticated users who have active sessions.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery tokens or request validation mechanisms within the router's web administration interface. When administrators access the router's management console, the device establishes a session that remains valid for a specified duration. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in web browsers to submit requests to the router's administrative endpoints without the user's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability specifically targets configuration parameters including security options, SSID settings, and password configurations, enabling attackers to modify critical network parameters that affect wireless security and access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized configuration changes, as it provides attackers with significant control over wireless network security. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can disable WPA2 encryption and set the wireless security to None, effectively making the network completely accessible to any device within range. Additionally, the ability to modify hiddenSSID parameters, SSID names, and security passwords allows for complete network takeover scenarios where attackers can establish unauthorized access points or redirect network traffic. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home networks that rely on D-Link DIR-615 devices for wireless connectivity, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks, unauthorized network access, and data interception.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7398 should focus on immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the CSRF implementation flaws, alongside network monitoring to detect unauthorized configuration changes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure from wireless networks, employ network access control measures, and conduct regular security assessments of network devices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which catalogs cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Persistence and Defense Evasion, where adversaries establish unauthorized access to network infrastructure. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms, such as two-factor authentication for administrative access, and regularly audit router configurations to detect unauthorized modifications that may indicate exploitation attempts.