CVE-2018-6528 in DIR-860L
Summary
by MITRE
XSS vulnerability in htdocs/webinc/body/bsc_sms_send.php in D-Link DIR-868L DIR868LA1_FW112b04 and previous versions, DIR-865L DIR-865L_REVA_FIRMWARE_PATCH_1.08.B01 and previous versions, and DIR-860L DIR860LA1_FW110b04 and previous versions allows remote attackers to read a cookie via a crafted receiver parameter to soap.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The CVE-2018-6528 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in D-Link wireless routers including the DIR-868L, DIR-865L, and DIR-860L models. This vulnerability exists within the web interface component located at htdocs/webinc/body/bsc_sms_send.php and affects firmware versions up to and including DIR868LA1_FW112b04, DIR-865L_REVA_FIRMWARE_PATCH_1.08.B01, and DIR860LA1_FW110b04. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser through manipulation of the soap.cgi endpoint, specifically targeting the receiver parameter field.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the affected D-Link router firmware. When a user submits a crafted receiver parameter through the soap.cgi interface, the system fails to properly sanitize the input before incorporating it into the web response. This allows malicious payloads to be injected and executed within the browser context of authenticated users, potentially compromising session integrity and user security. The vulnerability specifically affects the SMS sending functionality of the router's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within the same security context as legitimate administrative operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security as it enables attackers to access sensitive session cookies and potentially escalate privileges within the router's administrative interface. The attack vector requires remote exploitation without authentication, making it particularly concerning for enterprise and home networks. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal administrative session tokens, gain unauthorized access to router configuration settings, and potentially compromise the entire network infrastructure. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of web applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the identified vulnerability, as well as network segmentation and monitoring of traffic to and from affected router models. Network administrators should implement strict input validation policies and consider disabling unnecessary web services when possible. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious parameter inputs, and conducting regular security assessments of networked devices. Organizations should also establish procedures for rapid firmware patch deployment and maintain inventories of all network devices to ensure comprehensive coverage of security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and the potential consequences of inadequate input validation in web-based administrative interfaces.