CVE-2018-25035 in TCW710
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2022
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Thomson TCW710 ST5D.10.05. Affected is an unknown function of the file /goform/RGFirewallEL. The manipulation of the argument EmailAddress/SmtpServerName with the input >alert(1) as part of POST Request leads to cross site scripting (Persistent). It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25035 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw in the Thomson TCW710 ST5D.10.05 device, specifically within the /goform/RGFirewallEL file handling functionality. This persistent XSS vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web interface of the network device, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this equipment for firewall management. The flaw manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious POST request containing the payload ">alert(1)" in either the EmailAddress or SmtpServerName parameters, which then gets stored and executed in subsequent user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing and storing it within the web application's backend systems. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications viewed by other users. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is stored server-side and executed whenever a victim accesses the affected interface, rather than requiring a direct interaction with the malicious page. The attack vector is entirely remote, eliminating the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where such devices are commonly deployed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to the device's management interface. Successful exploitation could enable adversaries to view, modify, or delete sensitive configuration data, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized network access. The disclosed exploit demonstrates that attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform actions such as modifying firewall rules, accessing administrative credentials, or redirecting traffic through malicious endpoints. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability represents a technique for privilege escalation and persistence within network environments, as it allows attackers to maintain long-term access to critical network infrastructure components.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical systems, deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and applying firmware updates if available from the vendor. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation at multiple layers of the application stack, including both client-side and server-side sanitization mechanisms. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network scans to identify all instances of this device model and ensure proper access controls are implemented to limit administrative access to trusted personnel only. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure components remain essential to identify similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with unauthorized access to critical systems and data.