CVE-2019-16326 in DIR-601 B1
Summary
by MITRE
D-Link DIR-601 B1 2.00NA devices have CSRF because no anti-CSRF token is implemented. A remote attacker could exploit this in conjunction with CVE-2019-16327 to enable remote router management and device compromise. NOTE: this is an end-of-life product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The D-Link DIR-601 B1 2.00NA router represents a critical security vulnerability landscape where the absence of anti-cross-site request forgery protection creates a significant attack surface. This device operates within the consumer and small office networking space, where the implementation of basic security controls becomes paramount to protecting user networks. The vulnerability exists in the web-based administrative interface that lacks proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to execute unauthorized administrative commands through crafted requests. This weakness directly violates fundamental web application security principles and represents a classic implementation flaw that has been extensively documented in security frameworks and standards.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of CSRF protection mechanisms within the router's web administration interface. When administrators access the router configuration through a web browser, the system should validate that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions through the use of anti-CSRF tokens. These tokens serve as unique identifiers that ensure requests are intentional actions by authenticated users rather than maliciously crafted requests that could be triggered through social engineering or phishing attacks. Without this protection, any authenticated user session can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious HTML pages or emails containing embedded requests that automatically execute administrative functions when viewed by an authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over router management functions. When combined with CVE-2019-16327, which likely represents another vulnerability in the same product line, attackers can achieve full device compromise and unauthorized network access. This combination allows for persistent access to the network infrastructure, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, port forwarding modifications, and complete network configuration changes. The end-of-life status of the device does not diminish the severity of this vulnerability, as legacy devices often continue to operate in networks where administrators may not be aware of the security risks. The attack vector remains particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit and can be executed remotely without physical access to the device.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in web applications. The implementation lacks proper session management controls and request validation mechanisms that are fundamental to secure web application design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The most effective mitigation strategies include immediate device replacement or decommissioning, as the end-of-life status indicates no further security updates will be provided. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide temporary protection, but the fundamental flaw in the device's architecture requires complete removal from operational networks to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify all instances of this vulnerable device and ensure proper network hygiene practices are maintained.