CVE-2018-10576 in AP100
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on WatchGuard AP100, AP102, and AP200 devices with firmware before 1.2.9.15. Improper authentication handling by the native Access Point web UI allows authentication using a local system account (instead of the dedicated web-only user).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10576 affects WatchGuard wireless access point devices including the AP100, AP102, and AP200 models running firmware versions prior to 1.2.9.15. This represents a critical authentication flaw that undermines the security model of these network devices by allowing unauthorized access through improper authentication handling within the native web user interface. The issue stems from the device's failure to properly enforce authentication boundaries between system accounts and web interface accounts, creating a privilege escalation vector that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the web-based management interface where the authentication system incorrectly permits local system accounts to authenticate against the web UI instead of enforcing the separation between system-level credentials and dedicated web-only user accounts. This design weakness enables an attacker who gains access to local system credentials to bypass the intended web interface authentication mechanism and gain administrative access to the device through the web UI. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper authentication handling as classified by CWE-287, which specifically addresses authentication mechanisms that do not properly verify the identity of users attempting to access system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on WatchGuard access points for wireless network infrastructure. An attacker who can obtain local system credentials could potentially escalate privileges to full administrative access of the wireless access point, allowing them to modify network configurations, intercept wireless traffic, disable security features, or establish persistent access points within the network. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as this vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise the entire wireless network infrastructure managed by these devices, particularly in environments where wireless access points serve as critical network entry points.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion categories. Attackers could leverage this weakness to maintain persistent access to network infrastructure while avoiding detection through legitimate administrative access patterns. The vulnerability also relates to the broader category of credential exposure and privilege abuse as outlined in various security frameworks, since it allows for unauthorized access using legitimate system credentials. Organizations using affected WatchGuard devices should prioritize immediate firmware updates to address this vulnerability and implement additional monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts or unauthorized access patterns in their wireless network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware upgrades to version 1.2.9.15 or later, which addresses the authentication handling flaw through proper enforcement of account separation between system and web interface credentials. Network administrators should also implement strict access controls for local system accounts, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to these credentials and that account usage is properly monitored. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to wireless infrastructure, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of wireless network components to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network devices. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper authentication boundary enforcement in network infrastructure devices and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of management interfaces in embedded systems.