CVE-2019-13268 in Archer C3200 V1
Summary
by MITRE
TP-Link Archer C3200 V1 and Archer C2 V1 devices have Insufficient Compartmentalization between a host network and a guest network that are established by the same device. They forward ARP requests, which are sent as broadcast packets, between the host and the guest networks. To use this leakage as a direct covert channel, the sender can trivially issue an ARP request to an arbitrary computer on the network. (In general, some routers restrict ARP forwarding only to requests destined for the network's subnet mask, but these routers did not restrict this traffic in any way. Depending on this factor, one must use either the lower 8 bits of the IP address, or the entire 32 bits, as the data payload.)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13268 affects TP-Link Archer C3200 V1 and Archer C2 V1 wireless routers, representing a critical flaw in network segmentation security mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from insufficient compartmentalization between host and guest networks established by the same device, creating a fundamental breach in network isolation principles that are essential for maintaining security boundaries within enterprise and home networking environments. The issue manifests through the improper forwarding of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests between network segments, effectively allowing communication channels that should remain isolated.
The technical flaw involves the router's failure to properly filter ARP traffic between network compartments, specifically forwarding broadcast ARP requests that contain IP address information between the host and guest networks. This behavior violates standard network security practices where ARP traffic should be restricted to within individual network segments to prevent unauthorized cross-segment communication. According to CWE-668, this represents an insufficient compartmentalization vulnerability where unauthorized information flows occur between security domains, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing as it enables attackers to gather network information through seemingly benign ARP requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to establish covert communication channels between network segments that should remain isolated. An attacker can trivially issue ARP requests to arbitrary computers on the network, effectively using the ARP protocol as a data exfiltration mechanism. The vulnerability's exploitation capability is enhanced by the fact that routers typically should restrict ARP forwarding to requests destined for the network's subnet mask, but these devices fail to implement such restrictions. This allows attackers to utilize either the lower 8 bits or the entire 32-bit IP address as data payloads, depending on network configuration, creating multiple potential attack vectors for information leakage and network reconnaissance.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised networks. Network administrators who rely on guest network isolation for security purposes may unknowingly allow attackers to traverse between segments, undermining the fundamental security model of network segmentation. This vulnerability specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as ARP requests can be used to establish covert channels that bypass traditional network monitoring systems. The lack of proper ARP filtering creates opportunities for attackers to perform network discovery, map network topology, and potentially establish persistence mechanisms within the network infrastructure. Organizations implementing these devices should consider immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates, network segmentation using additional security controls, and monitoring for unusual ARP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.