CVE-2018-18008 in DSL
Summary
by MITRE
spaces.htm on multiple D-Link devices (DSL, DIR, DWR) allows remote unauthenticated attackers to discover admin credentials.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18008 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting multiple D-Link device models including DSL, DIR, and DWR series routers and network appliances. This vulnerability resides within the spaces.htm web interface component of the affected devices, creating an unintended access vector that allows remote attackers to obtain administrative credentials without requiring authentication. The flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms within the web application layer of these network devices, specifically in how the system handles requests to the spaces.htm file. This represents a significant security weakness that violates fundamental principles of network device security and access control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a design flaw in the web server component of D-Link devices where the spaces.htm file fails to properly validate user credentials or enforce authentication requirements. Attackers can simply access this specific web page without providing any authentication tokens or login credentials, which then reveals administrative account information including usernames and potentially passwords. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically representing improper access control where the system fails to properly enforce authorization mechanisms. The flaw exists in the application logic that handles web interface requests and demonstrates a critical failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within network device firmware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with immediate access to administrative credentials for affected D-Link devices. Once compromised, attackers can gain full control over the network infrastructure, enabling them to modify firewall rules, change network configurations, redirect traffic, and potentially establish persistent access points within the network. This vulnerability directly supports various attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it allows adversaries to leverage stolen administrative credentials for further network compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the devices or knowledge of the local network.
Security professionals should immediately implement network segmentation measures to isolate affected devices from critical network segments and apply firmware updates from D-Link as soon as available. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to web interface components, particularly focusing on unauthorized access attempts to spaces.htm and related administrative pages. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected D-Link device models and ensure proper network access controls are implemented to prevent lateral movement once a device is compromised. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular firmware updates and security assessments for network infrastructure devices, as well as the need for proper web application security testing during device development cycles. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems and regular security audits can help identify and remediate similar access control vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.