CVE-2019-15653 in AP2600-I
Summary
by MITRE
Comba AP2600-I devices through A02,0202N00PD2 are prone to password disclosure via an insecure authentication mechanism. The HTML source code of the login page contains values that allow obtaining the username and password. The username are password values are a double md5 of the plaintext real value, i.e., md5(md5(value)).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2024
The Comba AP2600-I series wireless access points, specifically versions A02, 0202N00PD2 and earlier, contain a critical authentication vulnerability that exposes sensitive credentials through insecure implementation practices. This vulnerability affects devices running firmware versions up to and including A02, 0202N00PD2, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these network devices for wireless connectivity and access control.
The technical flaw manifests in the login page implementation where sensitive authentication information is embedded directly within the HTML source code. This design decision violates fundamental security principles by exposing credential-related data in a manner that allows unauthorized parties to extract the necessary information for authentication. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication mechanism where username and password values are stored in a predictable format that can be reverse-engineered by attackers. The implementation uses a double md5 hashing approach where the actual credentials are hashed twice using the md5 algorithm, meaning that the stored values represent md5(md5(value)) rather than implementing proper password hashing standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure as it provides attackers with immediate access to administrative accounts on network infrastructure. This creates a pathway for lateral movement within networks, allowing threat actors to gain control over wireless access points and potentially compromise entire network segments. The vulnerability affects the core authentication functionality of these devices, meaning that any organization with these access points deployed in their network infrastructure faces a direct risk of unauthorized access and potential network compromise. The predictable nature of the double md5 implementation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it reduces the complexity required for credential recovery.
Security professionals should recognize this issue as a variant of weak authentication mechanisms and improper credential handling practices that align with common attack patterns documented in the attack tactics and techniques framework. This vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices that could be categorized under weak authentication and credential exposure attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from the vendor, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper password hashing implementation and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, where weak authentication and credential exposure represent critical security risks. The presence of double md5 hashing in the login page source code indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of cryptographic security requirements, as proper password hashing should utilize salted hashes with more robust algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2 rather than simple double md5 operations that are easily reversible through rainbow table attacks.