CVE-2018-10822 in DWR-116
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the web interface on D-Link DWR-116 through 1.06, DIR-140L through 1.02, DIR-640L through 1.02, DWR-512 through 2.02, DWR-712 through 2.02, DWR-912 through 2.02, DWR-921 through 2.02, and DWR-111 through 1.01 devices allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a /.. or // after "GET /uir" in an HTTP request. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2017-6190.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
This directory traversal vulnerability affects multiple D-Link wireless routers and broadband routers including models DWR-116 through 1.06, DIR-140L through 1.02, DIR-640L through 1.02, DWR-512 through 2.02, DWR-712 through 2.02, DWR-912 through 2.02, DWR-921 through 2.02, and DWR-111 through 1.01. The flaw resides in the web interface implementation where the device fails to properly sanitize user input when processing HTTP requests containing directory traversal sequences. This vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the affected devices through carefully crafted HTTP requests containing sequences such as /.. or // following the initial GET /uir pattern. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it stems from an incorrect remediation of a previous vulnerability CVE-2017-6190, indicating a flawed security update process that may have introduced new attack vectors while attempting to address existing ones.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through HTTP request manipulation where attackers can bypass access controls by appending directory traversal sequences to the web interface URL. When the device processes these malformed requests, it fails to validate or sanitize the input properly, allowing the web server to interpret the malicious path traversal sequences and subsequently expose sensitive files from the device's file system. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 - Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries can access sensitive data through path traversal mechanisms. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially access configuration files, authentication credentials, system logs, and other sensitive information that could compromise the entire network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with the capability to extract critical system information that could be leveraged for further attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to administrative credentials, network configuration details, and other sensitive data that would allow them to take full control of the affected devices. This could result in complete network compromise, as these routers often serve as gateways to larger network infrastructures. The vulnerability affects not just individual devices but entire network segments that rely on these devices for connectivity and security policy enforcement. Organizations using these affected models may face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the flawed implementation and properly resolve the directory traversal issue. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices from untrusted networks and consider disabling unnecessary web interface access where possible. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious HTTP requests containing directory traversal patterns would provide an additional layer of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough security testing of patches and updates, as the incorrect fix for CVE-2017-6190 introduced this new weakness. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar issues in other devices and ensure that security updates are properly validated before deployment to prevent similar incidents in the future.