CVE-2020-10173 in VR-3033
Summary
by MITRE
Comtrend VR-3033 DE11-416SSG-C01_R02.A2pvI042j1.d26m devices have Multiple Authenticated Command Injection vulnerabilities via the ping and traceroute diagnostic pages, as demonstrated by shell metacharacters in the pingIpAddress parameter to ping.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The CVE-2020-10173 vulnerability affects Comtrend VR-3033 DE11-416SSG-C01_R02.A2pvI042j1 devices, representing a critical authenticated command injection flaw that resides within the device's diagnostic functionality. This vulnerability specifically targets the ping and traceroute diagnostic pages, which are commonly used network troubleshooting tools accessible through the device's web interface. The flaw manifests when an authenticated user submits malicious shell metacharacters through the pingIpAddress parameter in the ping.cgi script, allowing arbitrary command execution on the underlying operating system. This represents a significant security risk as it bypasses normal access controls and enables attackers with valid credentials to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the diagnostic web interface components. When the device processes the pingIpAddress parameter, it fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into system commands, creating a classic command injection vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the legitimate diagnostic interface, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the device requires only authenticated access, which can often be obtained through default credentials or weak authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, which respectively address command injection and code injection flaws, and it maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for further compromise of the network infrastructure. An attacker who gains access to the device through legitimate credentials can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data exfiltration, or use of the device as a pivot point for attacking other network segments. The vulnerability affects devices running firmware versions that include the ping.cgi script without proper input validation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device firmware updates are infrequent or delayed. Network administrators face the challenge of identifying potentially compromised devices, as the command injection may not immediately produce obvious signs of exploitation, and the attack could be conducted through normal diagnostic usage patterns that appear legitimate to network monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-10173 require immediate attention from network administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves applying firmware updates from Comtrend that address the input validation flaws in the diagnostic interface components. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication. Additional protective measures include monitoring web interface access logs for unusual patterns, particularly in diagnostic tool usage, and implementing network access controls to restrict access to the device's management interfaces to authorized personnel only. Security teams should also consider disabling unused diagnostic features and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need to secure administrative interfaces, as these components often represent the most privileged access points to network infrastructure.