CVE-2017-7406 in DIR-615
Summary
by MITRE
The D-Link DIR-615 device before v20.12PTb04 doesn't use SSL for any of the authenticated pages. Also, it doesn't allow the user to generate his own SSL Certificate. An attacker can simply monitor network traffic to steal a user's credentials and/or credentials of users being added while sniffing the traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The CVE-2017-7406 vulnerability affects D-Link DIR-615 wireless routers running firmware versions prior to v20.12PTb04, representing a critical security flaw in network device authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the device's complete absence of secure communication protocols for authenticated administrative interfaces, creating an exploitable gap in the device's security architecture that directly violates fundamental network security principles. The flaw specifically impacts the router's handling of user sessions and administrative access, where all authenticated pages operate without any form of Transport Layer Security protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a severe failure in the device's cryptographic security posture, as it completely omits SSL/TLS encryption for all authenticated administrative pages. This configuration exposes all network traffic between the user's browser and the router's web interface to plaintext transmission, making it trivial for attackers to intercept and analyze communication streams. The vulnerability exists because the device lacks the capability to generate or utilize custom SSL certificates, forcing administrators to rely on insecure HTTP connections even when attempting to access sensitive administrative functions. This design flaw represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure communication practices that are fundamental to network security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a persistent security risk for all users of affected devices. Network administrators and end users who access the router's web interface over untrusted networks become vulnerable to credential interception attacks, session hijacking, and potential full device compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network monitoring tools might be present, as it allows attackers to capture authentication tokens, administrative credentials, and potentially sensitive configuration data. This exposure creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by both local and remote adversaries, making it a high-priority security concern for organizations relying on these devices.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-319 (CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) and represent a clear violation of NIST SP 800-53 security controls related to secure communication and authentication. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as credential access through network sniffing and privilege escalation via administrative interface compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to the latest available versions, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and the deployment of network monitoring tools to detect potential credential interception attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure default configurations in network devices and the necessity of implementing mandatory encryption for all administrative interfaces, as recommended by industry standards such as the ISO/IEC 27001 information security management framework.