CVE-2018-12706 in DG-BR4000NG
Summary
by MITRE
DIGISOL DG-BR4000NG devices have a Buffer Overflow via a long Authorization HTTP header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2024
The DIGISOL DG-BR4000NG is a network bridge device that serves as a critical component in wireless networking infrastructure, connecting wired and wireless networks while providing authentication and access control mechanisms. This particular device operates as a gateway for network communication and manages user authentication through HTTP headers, making it a potential target for sophisticated cyber attacks that exploit memory management vulnerabilities. The device's role in network security infrastructure means that any vulnerability within its authentication framework could compromise the entire network access control system.
The vulnerability manifests as a buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing the Authorization HTTP header parameter. When an attacker crafts a maliciously long Authorization header exceeding the device's allocated buffer space, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting critical system variables and execution pointers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically representing a classic stack-based buffer overflow where the attacker can manipulate the program execution flow by overwriting return addresses and function pointers stored in memory. The overflow occurs during the HTTP header parsing process, indicating that the device lacks proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it provides potential attackers with a pathway for arbitrary code execution within the device's operating environment. An attacker could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the device's administrative interface, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The vulnerability affects the device's authentication process, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, gain administrative privileges, and modify network configurations. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which describes exploitation of remote services through buffer overflows and memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from DIGISOL to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious HTTP header patterns that attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices, as buffer overflows remain a prevalent class of vulnerabilities in embedded systems and network appliances that often lack proper memory safety mechanisms.