CVE-2018-4061 in AirLink ES450
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the ACEManager iplogging.cgi functionality of Sierra Wireless AirLink ES450 FW 4.9.3. A specially crafted HTTP request can inject arbitrary commands, resulting in arbitrary command execution. An attacker can send an authenticated HTTP request to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4061 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Sierra Wireless AirLink ES450 device firmware version 4.9.3. This vulnerability resides in the ACEManager iplogging.cgi component, which handles logging functionality for network traffic. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device through specially crafted HTTP requests that exploit improper input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has obtained valid credentials can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over the device's operational capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the iplogging.cgi script. When the device processes HTTP requests containing malicious payloads, the system fails to properly validate or escape input parameters before incorporating them into system commands. This classic command injection vulnerability falls under CWE-77, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. The flaw enables an attacker to inject operating system commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The exploitation process involves crafting HTTP requests that contain command injection payloads, which are then processed by the vulnerable cgi script and executed on the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected network device. An attacker with authenticated access can manipulate the device's network configuration, modify logging parameters, access sensitive network traffic, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 for command and script execution, T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, and T1082 for system information discovery. The device's role as a network gateway makes this particularly dangerous as it could serve as an entry point for broader network infiltration or as a platform for conducting man-in-the-middle attacks against connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Sierra Wireless to address the command injection flaw in the ACEManager component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of unauthorized access to the device. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms can provide additional protection layers against similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar command injection flaws in network infrastructure devices. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns or suspicious HTTP request payloads that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in network device security implementations.