CVE-2018-14711 in RT-AC3200
Summary
by MITRE
Missing cross-site request forgery protection in appGet.cgi on ASUS RT-AC3200 version 3.0.0.4.382.50010 allows attackers to cause state-changing actions with specially crafted URLs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14711 represents a critical security flaw in the ASUS RT-AC3200 router firmware version 3.0.0.4.382.50010 where the application fails to implement proper cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms. This deficiency exists within the appGet.cgi web interface component, which handles various administrative functions and state-changing operations. The absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective measures creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to perform unauthorized administrative actions on the affected device.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where the application fails to validate the origin of requests. The specific implementation flaw in the ASUS router occurs when the appGet.cgi script processes requests without verifying that they originate from legitimate authenticated users. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically execute administrative functions such as changing network settings, modifying user accounts, or altering firewall configurations without the user's knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential complete system compromise. When an authenticated user visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the router automatically executes commands that could lead to network disruption, unauthorized access to the local network, or even complete takeover of the device. This risk is particularly severe in home network environments where users may not be aware of the ongoing attacks or may inadvertently click on malicious links. The vulnerability affects the router's administrative interface, which typically operates with elevated privileges, making the potential damage significantly greater than typical web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14711 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from ASUS to address the missing CSRF protection mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as disabling remote administration features when possible, restricting access to the router's web interface to trusted IP addresses only, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the CSRF flaw to gain unauthorized administrative access to network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such compromises and ensure that router management interfaces are not directly exposed to untrusted networks or the internet. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper web application security controls even in embedded network devices that may not be considered traditional web applications.