CVE-2018-12456 in NPLUG
Summary
by MITRE
Intelbras NPLUG 1.0.0.14 wireless repeater devices have no CSRF token protection in the web interface, allowing attackers to perform actions such as changing the wireless SSID, rebooting the device, editing access control lists, or activating remote access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12456 affects Intelbras NPLUG 1.0.0.14 wireless repeater devices, representing a critical security flaw in the web interface authentication mechanism. This issue stems from the complete absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) token protection, which is a fundamental security control designed to prevent unauthorized commands from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability exists within the device's web administration interface, where users can perform various configuration changes and system operations. The lack of CSRF protection creates a significant attack surface that allows malicious actors to exploit the device's administrative functions without proper authorization.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to implement proper request validation mechanisms in the web interface. When users interact with the device's administration panel, the system should validate that each request originates from an authenticated session and contains a unique, unpredictable token that prevents attackers from crafting malicious requests that could be executed by authenticated users. Without this protection, attackers can craft specially formatted requests that, when executed by a victim who is authenticated to the device, will perform unauthorized actions. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects critical administrative functions including wireless configuration changes, system reboot operations, access control list modifications, and remote access activation. The flaw represents a direct violation of security principle #3 from the OWASP Top Ten, which emphasizes the importance of protecting against CSRF attacks through proper token implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations and individuals utilizing these devices. Attackers with access to the local network can potentially compromise the wireless infrastructure by changing the SSID to create a rogue access point, effectively performing a man-in-the-middle attack. The ability to reboot the device remotely can lead to denial of service conditions that disrupt network connectivity for all connected devices. Modifications to access control lists can grant unauthorized users access to the network, while activating remote access capabilities provides persistent backdoor access to the device. This vulnerability directly maps to multiple ATT&CK tactics including TA0001 (Initial Access) through TA0003 (Persistence) and TA0006 (Credential Access), as attackers can establish footholds and maintain access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, making it a well-documented and recognized security weakness.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from device administrators and network security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit access to the device's web interface to authorized personnel only. Network administrators should ensure that the device's web interface is not accessible from untrusted networks and that strong authentication mechanisms are in place. Regular firmware updates should be applied to address the vulnerability, though this requires checking for patches from Intelbras or third-party vendors. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual activities such as unexpected SSID changes or unauthorized reboot attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary administrative features and services, particularly remote access capabilities that are not required for normal operation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls at the network perimeter and demonstrates the critical need for regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.