CVE-2018-18009 in DIR-140L
Summary
by MITRE
dirary0.js on D-Link DIR-140L, DIR-640L devices allows remote unauthenticated attackers to discover admin credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18009 affects D-Link wireless routers including models DIR-140L and DIR-640L, where a flaw in the dirary0.js script permits remote unauthenticated attackers to extract administrative credentials. This represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental authentication mechanisms of these network devices. The vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation within the web interface scripting component, allowing attackers to bypass the standard authentication process and directly retrieve sensitive credential information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific script file named dirary0.js which is part of the device's web server implementation. This script lacks proper authorization checks and validation mechanisms, enabling any remote attacker to access administrative account credentials without requiring valid authentication tokens or credentials. The flaw exists in the device's web application layer where the script processes requests and handles user access control. Attackers can directly access the script through HTTP requests to retrieve stored administrative credentials, effectively compromising the device's security posture.
This vulnerability creates significant operational impact by providing attackers with complete administrative control over affected D-Link devices. Once credentials are obtained, attackers can modify network configurations, install malicious firmware, redirect traffic, or establish backdoor access points. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior access or credentials are required, making the exploitation particularly dangerous for network administrators. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader network infrastructure as compromised routers can serve as entry points for lateral movement and further attacks against connected systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically focusing on insufficient authorization mechanisms within web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, enabling adversaries to gain administrative privileges without detection. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics of remote code execution through web application vulnerabilities, where the attacker can leverage the exposed credentials to perform unauthorized administrative actions. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigations include applying firmware updates from D-Link, disabling unnecessary web services, and implementing network access controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability.