CVE-2019-12933 in LV-WR09
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue on the PIX-Link Repeater/Router LV-WR09 with firmware v28K.MiniRouter.20180616 allows attackers to steal credentials without being connected to the network. The attack vector is a crafted ESSID.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-12933 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the PIX-Link Repeater/Router LV-WR09 device, specifically affecting firmware version v28K.MiniRouter.20180616. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the device's web interface, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data including the ESSID parameter used in wireless network configurations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates entirely outside the device's local network boundary, enabling remote exploitation without requiring any network connectivity from the attacker's side.
The technical exploitation mechanism relies on crafting a malicious ESSID value that contains embedded malicious script code, which gets executed within the context of a victim's browser when the device's web interface is accessed. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, Cross-site Scripting, and specifically represents a stored XSS variant since the malicious payload is persisted in the device's configuration parameters. The attacker can leverage this weakness to inject malicious JavaScript code that can capture authentication credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive information from users interacting with the device's management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the device's administrative functions. Once compromised, the attacker gains full control over the router's configuration, potentially allowing them to redirect traffic, disable security features, or create backdoor access points. The attack vector being an ESSID parameter makes this particularly dangerous because wireless network names are often broadcast publicly and can be easily manipulated by attackers within range. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering or direct exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the XSS vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to isolate critical devices, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. Additionally, administrators should regularly audit device configurations, disable unnecessary web management interfaces, and implement strict access controls for router management functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in embedded networking devices and highlights the need for regular security assessments of IoT and network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous ESSID changes or unusual network configuration modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts.