CVE-2019-12328 in A10W
Summary
by MITRE
A command injection (missing input validation) issue in the remote phonebook configuration URI in the web interface of the Atcom A10W VoIP phone with firmware 2.6.1a2421 allows an authenticated remote attacker in the same network to trigger OS commands via shell metacharacters in a POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-12328 represents a critical command injection flaw in the Atcom A10W VoIP phone's web interface, specifically within the remote phonebook configuration URI handling mechanism. This issue stems from inadequate input validation processes that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability affects firmware version 2.6.1a2421 and exposes the device to authenticated remote attackers who exist within the same network segment. The attack vector involves sending specially crafted shell metacharacters through a POST request to the vulnerable URI endpoint, which then gets executed as operating system commands on the affected device.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection weakness that maps directly to CWE-77 and CWE-94 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw occurs when the web interface fails to properly validate or escape input parameters passed through the remote phonebook configuration URI, allowing malicious payloads containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks to be interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. This represents a severe security gap that transforms a legitimate configuration interface into a potential command execution channel for unauthorized users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security and device integrity. An authenticated attacker within the same network can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary operating system commands, potentially gaining full control over the VoIP phone's functionality. The impact extends beyond simple command execution as it could enable attackers to modify phonebook entries, alter network configurations, access sensitive data, or even establish persistent access points within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that physical access to the device is not required, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where VoIP infrastructure is critical.
The attack methodology for this vulnerability requires an attacker to first authenticate to the device's web interface, which is typically achieved through legitimate administrative credentials or by exploiting other authentication bypass mechanisms. Once authenticated, the attacker can craft a POST request containing malicious shell metacharacters targeting the vulnerable remote phonebook configuration URI. The system processes this request without proper input sanitization, resulting in command execution with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 Valid Accounts, as it leverages legitimate administrative access to execute malicious commands.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12328 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Atcom to address the underlying input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit unauthorized access to VoIP devices, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect suspicious POST requests containing shell metacharacters. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify command injection attempts targeting VoIP infrastructure, as this vulnerability represents a common attack pattern that affects various networked devices in the telecommunications sector.