CVE-2018-0632 in W300P
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Aterm W300P Ver1.0.13 and earlier allows attacker with administrator rights to execute arbitrary code via HTTP request and response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0632 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Aterm W300P router firmware version 1.0.13 and earlier. This issue manifests in the HTTP request and response handling mechanisms of the device's web interface, creating a pathway for exploitation that could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects the router's ability to process incoming HTTP requests and responses without proper bounds checking, allowing malicious data to overflow allocated memory buffers and potentially overwrite critical system memory regions.
This buffer overflow vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking permits attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative privileges to exploit, meaning that an attacker who has already gained access to the router's administrative interface could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the device. The attack vector involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests that trigger the buffer overflow condition during processing, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or complete system takeover.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0632 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the network infrastructure. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to modify router configurations, redirect traffic, install backdoors, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. This represents a significant threat to network security and can result in data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, or the establishment of persistent command and control channels. The vulnerability affects not only individual devices but also entire network segments that rely on the compromised router for connectivity and security enforcement.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the buffer overflow condition and implement proper input validation for HTTP request processing. Network administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns, and regularly audit router configurations to detect unauthorized changes. Additionally, the implementation of secure coding practices including bounds checking and memory management controls should be enforced in all network device software development processes. Organizations should also maintain comprehensive network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address router compromise scenarios. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical network infrastructure from persistent threats.