CVE-2017-8835 in Balance
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection exists on Peplink Balance 305, 380, 580, 710, 1350, and 2500 devices with firmware before fw-b305hw2_380hw6_580hw2_710hw3_1350hw2_2500-7.0.1-build2093. An attack vector is the bauth cookie to cgi-bin/MANGA/admin.cgi. One impact is enumeration of user accounts by observing whether a session ID can be retrieved from the sessions database.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2024
The CVE-2017-8835 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw affecting Peplink Balance series devices including models 305, 380, 580, 710, 1350, and 2500. This vulnerability specifically targets devices running firmware versions prior to fw-b305hw2_380hw6_580hw2_710hw3_1350hw2_2500-7.0.1-build2093, creating a significant security risk for network infrastructure deployments. The vulnerability manifests through the bauth cookie parameter within the cgi-bin/MANGA/admin.cgi endpoint, which serves as the primary attack vector for exploiting the sql injection weakness. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection vulnerabilities, which are classified as one of the most dangerous web application security flaws by the CWE organization. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it directly impacts network management interfaces that are critical for device administration and security policy enforcement.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries through crafted input in the bauth cookie parameter. When the system processes this parameter without proper input validation or sanitization, it becomes susceptible to sql injection attacks that can execute arbitrary database commands. The specific impact of this vulnerability includes the enumeration of user accounts through session ID retrieval from the sessions database, which represents a significant information disclosure risk. Attackers can leverage this capability to gain insights into legitimate user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the network management system. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through database schema queries, as it enables unauthorized access to stored credentials and session information.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8835 extends beyond simple data enumeration to potentially enable full administrative compromise of the affected network devices. Network administrators who rely on these Peplink devices for critical infrastructure management face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network security controls. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models suggests a widespread exposure across deployments, particularly in environments where firmware updates have not been properly implemented. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to network configuration data, user authentication information, and potentially full control over network traffic management capabilities. This represents a serious concern for compliance with security standards such as nist 800-53 and iso 27001, which require robust protection of network management systems and prevention of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8835 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions 7.0.1-build2093 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the sql injection vulnerability. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces and ensure that only authorized personnel can interact with the affected devices. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic to the cgi-bin/MANGA/admin.cgi endpoint, conducting regular vulnerability assessments of network management systems, and establishing robust patch management procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular security audits of network infrastructure components to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and security patches in network infrastructure devices to prevent exploitation of known sql injection vulnerabilities.