CVE-2018-10823 in DWR-116
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on D-Link DWR-116 through 1.06, 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. An authenticated attacker may execute arbitrary code by injecting the shell command into the chkisg.htm page Sip parameter. This allows for full control over the device internals.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10823 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting multiple D-Link wireless router models including the DWR-116, DWR-512, DWR-712, DWR-912, DWR-921, and DWR-111 series. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface of these networking devices, specifically in the chkisg.htm page where the Sip parameter is processed without proper sanitization. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which categorizes command injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands on the affected devices, effectively granting them complete administrative control over the router's internal operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Sip parameter in the chkisg.htm web page interface. When an authenticated user submits a maliciously crafted Sip parameter value, the device fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before executing it as a shell command. This oversight allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands that are then executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated permissions on the device. The attack vector requires authentication since the vulnerability exists within the web administration interface, but once exploited, provides complete system compromise. The affected models span several firmware versions, indicating this was a widespread issue across D-Link's product line.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected routers. This compromise enables malicious actors to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence in wireless routers creates significant risk for both residential and enterprise networks, as these devices often serve as the primary gateway for network traffic. Attackers could leverage this access to monitor network communications, alter DNS settings, redirect users to malicious websites, or even use the compromised devices as launching points for attacks against other network segments. The persistence of the vulnerability across multiple device models and firmware versions suggests it was not properly addressed during the development lifecycle, making it particularly concerning for network administrators managing these devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10823 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from D-Link, as the company likely released patches addressing this specific command injection vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the router administration interfaces. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a command injection flaw means that input validation should be implemented at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and network monitoring systems. Organizations should also consider conducting regular vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar issues that may not have been patched, and implement continuous monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to network devices.