CVE-2018-5967 in WF2419
Summary
by MITRE
Netis WF2419 V2.2.36123 devices allow XSS via the Description parameter on the Bandwidth Control Rule Settings page.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5967 affects Netis WF2419 V2.2.36123 wireless routers and access points, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that could enable attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session. This vulnerability resides within the Bandwidth Control Rule Settings page of the device's web-based management interface, making it accessible through standard web browser interactions. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the router's user interface, specifically when processing the Description parameter that users can input while configuring bandwidth control rules. This parameter is intended for administrators to provide descriptive information about specific bandwidth restrictions but fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code within the Description field of a bandwidth control rule. When an authenticated user with administrative privileges navigates to the Bandwidth Control Rule Settings page, the malicious script code gets executed in the victim's browser context, potentially allowing the attacker to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where insufficient validation of user-provided data leads to script execution in the victim's browser. This particular implementation represents a classic reflected XSS vulnerability since the malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it compromises the integrity of the router's administrative interface and potentially exposes the entire network to further attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain persistent access to the router's management functions, modify network configurations, implement additional malicious rules, or establish backdoor access points. The attack requires only a single authenticated session to the router's web interface, making it particularly dangerous since network administrators regularly interact with these management pages during routine configuration tasks. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of scripting languages to execute commands, and T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that can lead to credential compromise and access to privileged interfaces. The router's web interface serves as a critical attack surface for network administrators, and compromising this interface provides attackers with a foothold that can be leveraged for lateral movement and persistent access within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected firmware versions, as well as implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual administrative activities. Organizations should ensure that all Netis devices running V2.2.36123 or similar firmware versions are updated to patched versions that properly validate and encode user input before rendering it in the web interface. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting administrative access to trusted networks only, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious activities in the router's logs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network device management interfaces, particularly those that handle user-supplied configuration data. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure components should include testing for similar XSS vulnerabilities in other management interfaces and ensuring that proper output encoding mechanisms are in place to prevent script execution in browser contexts.