CVE-2020-10883 in AC1750
Summary
by MITRE
This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of TP-Link Archer A7 Firmware Ver: 190726 AC1750 routers. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the file system. The issue lies in the lack of proper permissions set on the file system. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges. Was ZDI-CAN-9651.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2024
The CVE-2020-10883 vulnerability represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw discovered in TP-Link Archer A7 routers running firmware version 190726 with AC1750 capabilities. This vulnerability operates within the router's file system architecture and demonstrates a fundamental security misconfiguration that allows attackers to elevate their privileges from low-privileged to administrative levels. The flaw specifically manifests through inadequate permission controls within the device's file system implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to elevated system functions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial foothold through the execution of low-privileged code, which aligns with common attack methodologies where attackers first establish a presence before attempting privilege escalation. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and represents a classic example of inadequate access control mechanisms in embedded network devices. The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as they fundamentally compromise the router's ability to maintain secure access controls for system resources and configuration parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the router's file system design where critical system files and directories lack proper permission enforcement mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating file access controls or by directly accessing system resources that should be restricted to administrative users only. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized users to bypass the normal authentication and authorization processes that should protect sensitive system components. When properly configured, file system permissions should prevent low-privileged users from accessing or modifying critical system files, but in this case, the permission model fails to enforce such restrictions. This creates a scenario where an attacker can potentially modify system binaries, configuration files, or access administrative interfaces that should remain protected. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in network environments where routers serve as critical infrastructure components, as privilege escalation on such devices can lead to complete network compromise and unauthorized access to connected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-10883 extends significantly beyond the immediate privilege escalation capabilities, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected TP-Link Archer A7 devices. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain the ability to modify router configurations, install malicious software, redirect network traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This capability enables sophisticated attack scenarios including man-in-the-middle attacks, network monitoring, and potential lateral movement within the compromised network environment. The vulnerability's presence in consumer-grade networking equipment like the Archer A7 makes it particularly dangerous as these devices often serve as the primary gateway between internal networks and external internet access points. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete network infiltration, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to establish long-term access to enterprise or residential network environments. The fact that this vulnerability was tracked as ZDI-CAN-9651 indicates it was recognized by the security community as a significant threat requiring immediate attention and remediation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-10883 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary recommendation involves updating affected devices to the latest firmware versions provided by TP-Link, which should contain patches addressing the file system permission issues. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in embedded systems and underscores the need for security-by-design principles in network equipment development. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used as a persistence mechanism following initial network access. The remediation process should also include comprehensive network audits to identify other potentially vulnerable devices that may share similar permission configuration flaws, ensuring that the entire network infrastructure maintains appropriate security postures.