CVE-2018-7859 in DGS-1510
Summary
by MITRE
A security vulnerability in D-Link DGS-1510-series switches with firmware 1.20.011, 1.30.007, 1.31.B003 and older that may allow a remote attacker to inject malicious scripts in the device and execute commands via browser that is configuring the unit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2019
The CVE-2018-7859 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in D-Link DGS-1510-series network switches, specifically affecting firmware versions 1.20.011, 1.30.007, 1.31.B003 and older releases. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on D-Link switching infrastructure. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the switch's web administration portal, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a common web application security flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the web browser interface used to configure the D-Link switch. When the vulnerable web interface processes this malformed input, it fails to properly escape special characters, allowing malicious scripts to be injected into the device's web interface. This injection enables the execution of arbitrary commands on the switch itself, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the network device's administrative functions. The attack vector specifically targets the configuration interface, meaning that any user with access to the web management portal could be exploited, whether legitimate administrators or unauthorized parties who have gained access to the device's network interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7859 extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the affected network switches. Attackers could potentially gain full administrative control over the device, allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, create backdoors, or even use the compromised switch as a pivot point to attack other devices within the network. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where network switches serve as critical infrastructure components, as it could enable attackers to disrupt network operations, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access points within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the device, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed network management interfaces.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including firmware updates from D-Link to the latest available versions that contain patches for the cross-site scripting flaw. Network segmentation should be employed to limit access to the switch management interfaces to only authorized personnel, while implementing strong access controls and authentication mechanisms. The principle of least privilege should be applied to restrict web interface access, and regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious activities should be conducted. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and network administrators should regularly audit switch configurations to identify any unauthorized changes that might indicate successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date network device firmware and implementing robust network security practices to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: web protocols and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter: javascript.