CVE-2018-15875 in DIR-615
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability on D-Link DIR-615 routers 20.07 allows attackers to inject JavaScript into the router's admin UPnP page via the description field in an AddPortMapping UPnP SOAP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2020
The CVE-2018-15875 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in D-Link DIR-615 routers running firmware version 20.07 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the router's admin UPnP page, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of the administrator's browser session. The flaw exists within the Universal Plug and Play implementation of the router's web interface, where user-supplied input from the description field in AddPortMapping UPnP SOAP requests is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in the web page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent trust model of web applications where administrators interact with router management interfaces. When an attacker crafts a malicious UPnP SOAP request containing JavaScript code within the description field of an AddPortMapping operation, the router processes this input without adequate input validation. The vulnerable UPnP page subsequently displays this unfiltered content in the admin interface, creating an XSS vector that can be triggered when administrators view the affected page. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack where malicious input is immediately executed within the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise router administration sessions and potentially gain full control over the network infrastructure. An attacker could execute malicious scripts that steal administrator credentials, modify router configurations, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the device or network credentials to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise and home networks. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as the exploitation can occur through standard network protocols without requiring specialized tools or access methods. The compromised router could serve as a pivot point for further network reconnaissance and lateral movement attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the XSS flaw in the UPnP implementation. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of UPnP services to internal networks. Additionally, enabling firewall rules that restrict UPnP traffic to trusted sources and monitoring for suspicious UPnP activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations occur. Security monitoring should include detection of malformed SOAP requests and unusual patterns in UPnP service usage to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling UPnP services entirely if they are not required for network operations, as this eliminates the attack surface associated with the vulnerable implementation.