CVE-2017-7404 in DIR-615
Summary
by MITRE
On the D-Link DIR-615 before v20.12PTb04, if a victim logged in to the Router's Web Interface visits a malicious site from another Browser tab, the malicious site then can send requests to the victim's Router without knowing the credentials (CSRF). An attacker can host a page that sends a POST request to Form2File.htm that tries to upload Firmware to victim's Router. This causes the router to reboot/crash resulting in Denial of Service. An attacker may succeed in uploading malicious Firmware.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The CVE-2017-7404 vulnerability affects D-Link DIR-615 routers running firmware versions prior to v20.12PTb04, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that exploits the router's web interface authentication mechanism. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the trust relationship between the router's web interface and legitimate browser sessions. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the router's administrative web interface, specifically in the Form2File.htm endpoint that handles firmware upload operations. When a victim maintains an active session with the router's web management interface, the router fails to validate the origin of requests sent to its administrative endpoints, creating a persistent security gap that malicious actors can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of session management weaknesses where the router's web interface does not properly verify the source of administrative requests. The Form2File.htm endpoint, which should require authentication and validation before accepting firmware upload operations, operates without adequate CSRF token validation or referer checking. This allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that automatically submit POST requests to the router's firmware upload endpoint when victims visit compromised websites. The attack requires only that the victim be logged into the router's web interface in another browser tab, as the existing session cookies are automatically included with requests. The vulnerability specifically targets the router's firmware upload functionality, which is designed for legitimate administrative purposes but becomes exploitable when requests bypass proper authentication checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7404 extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass potential system compromise through malicious firmware injection. The vulnerability enables attackers to cause router reboots or crashes through unauthorized firmware upload attempts, disrupting network connectivity for affected users. More critically, the attack surface allows for successful firmware replacement operations, potentially enabling persistent backdoor access or complete system compromise. This represents a significant threat to network infrastructure security, as routers serve as critical gateways for network traffic and often contain sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise networks where multiple devices may be running vulnerable firmware versions, creating widespread exposure. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may browse untrusted content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7404 focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. The primary solution involves updating affected D-Link DIR-615 routers to firmware version v20.12PTb04 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as disabling remote administration capabilities, restricting access to router web interfaces to trusted IP addresses only, and employing network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized firmware modifications. Regular security updates and patch management processes become critical in preventing exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.