CVE-2018-17442 in Central WiFi Manager
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on D-Link Central WiFi Manager before v 1.03r0100-Beta1. An unrestricted file upload vulnerability in the onUploadLogPic endpoint allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary PHP code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17442 affects D-Link Central WiFi Manager versions prior to 1.03r0100-Beta1, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network management systems. This issue manifests as an unrestricted file upload vulnerability within the onUploadLogPic endpoint, which operates without proper validation mechanisms for file types or content. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to bypass security controls and upload malicious PHP files to the target system, thereby creating a persistent backdoor for code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the file upload functionality of the D-Link Central WiFi Manager interface. When authenticated users submit files through the onUploadLogPic endpoint, the system fails to enforce strict file type restrictions or perform comprehensive content analysis. This absence of proper validation allows attackers to upload PHP scripts that can be executed within the web server context, providing them with arbitrary code execution capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which categorizes unrestricted file upload as a serious weakness that can lead to remote code execution and system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on D-Link Central WiFi Manager for network infrastructure management. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can escalate their privileges and execute malicious code without detection. The implications extend beyond simple code execution, as attackers can potentially access sensitive network information, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network environment. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise networks where centralized WiFi management systems are deployed, creating potential attack vectors for lateral movement and data exfiltration.
The impact of this vulnerability is amplified by the fact that it affects a network management system that typically operates with elevated privileges and has access to critical infrastructure components. Attackers leveraging this flaw can potentially gain access to network logs, user credentials, and configuration data that would otherwise remain protected. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in the development lifecycle, specifically in the areas of secure coding and input validation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to version 1.03r0100-Beta1 or later, which address the file upload validation issues. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious file upload activities, while access controls should be strictly enforced to minimize the attack surface. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure file handling practices and the critical need for robust input validation in web applications that process user-supplied content. The flaw also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the execution of code through PHP scripts, and T1566, which encompasses the exploitation of vulnerabilities in network management systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other management systems and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place to prevent future incidents.