CVE-2018-8738 in 5444
Summary
by MITRE
Airties 5444 1.0.0.18 and 5444TT 1.0.0.18 devices allow XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8738 affects Airties 5444 and 5444TT wireless routers running firmware versions 1.0.0.18. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web interfaces accessible to users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the affected devices' web-based management interfaces, creating an attack surface where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. Such flaws are particularly dangerous in network infrastructure devices where administrators frequently interact through web interfaces, as they can be exploited to compromise the entire network.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure to properly sanitize user inputs in web form fields, URL parameters, or other interactive elements within the router's web interface. When an attacker crafts malicious input and submits it to the vulnerable system, the device fails to properly escape or encode the data before displaying it to the user. This allows JavaScript code to execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to perform more sophisticated attacks against network administrators. An attacker could craft payloads that steal administrator sessions, modify router configurations, or redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture credentials. Given that these devices are typically deployed in residential and small office environments, the attack surface is significant as administrators may be less security-conscious than in enterprise environments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects devices that are often left with default or weak authentication credentials, making exploitation more likely.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8738 should prioritize firmware updates from Airties to address the input validation and output encoding issues. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices and enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication. Additionally, regular security audits of network infrastructure devices should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and web application firewalls can be deployed to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and represents a critical weakness in network device security that requires immediate remediation. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior indicative of XSS exploitation attempts, as these attacks often involve the injection of beaconing code that can be detected through network traffic analysis.