CVE-2018-0554 in WZR-1750DHP2
Summary
by MITRE
Buffalo WZR-1750DHP2 Ver.2.30 and earlier allows an attacker to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands on the device via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0554 affects Buffalo WZR-1750DHP2 routers running firmware version 2.30 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote code execution. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the device's web administration interface, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to gain full system privileges. The vulnerability exists in the router's handling of specific HTTP requests and parameter processing, allowing malicious actors to circumvent the standard authentication procedures and directly execute commands on the underlying operating system. Such a flaw fundamentally compromises the device's security posture and exposes the entire network infrastructure to potential compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of input sanitization gaps in the router's web server component, where user-supplied parameters are not adequately validated before being processed by the system. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted command parameters that bypass authentication checks and are subsequently interpreted by the system shell. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89 categories, where insufficient input validation leads to arbitrary code execution. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for networked devices that are accessible from external networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0554 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the affected router. This includes the ability to modify network configurations, redirect traffic through malicious proxies, install persistent backdoors, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that aligns with multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script injection, T1021 for remote services, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Network administrators face the challenge of securing devices that may be exposed to the internet without proper network segmentation or additional security controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Buffalo to address the authentication bypass and command injection flaws. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices from public internet access and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary remote management services, implementing strong access controls for local administration interfaces, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and following security best practices for network device management, as outlined in NIST SP 800-125 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for information security management.