CVE-2020-35758 in LS9
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2021
An issue was discovered on Libre Wireless LS9 LS1.5/p7040 devices. There is a Authentication Bypass in the Web Interface. This interface does not properly restrict access to internal functionality. Despite presenting a password login page on first access, authentication is not required to access privileged functionality. As such, it's possible to directly access APIs that should not be exposed to an unauthenticated user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35758 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting Libre Wireless LS9 LS1.5 and p7040 devices. This issue manifests within the web interface of these wireless communication devices, where the authentication mechanism fails to properly enforce access controls for internal administrative functions. The flaw exists in the device's web-based management interface which initially appears to require authentication through a password login screen during first access but subsequently allows unrestricted access to privileged functionality without proper verification. This represents a fundamental failure in the device's access control implementation and directly violates security best practices for network device management interfaces.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper access control enforcement within the web application layer of the Libre Wireless devices. The system presents a login interface but fails to maintain proper session management or authentication state validation when accessing internal APIs and administrative functions. This authentication bypass allows attackers to directly access application programming interfaces that should only be available to authenticated administrators. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms and aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues. From an operational perspective, this flaw creates a pathway for unauthorized users to gain administrative access to the device without requiring valid credentials, potentially enabling complete control over the wireless communication infrastructure.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate core device functionality, modify network configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially disrupt communication services. The affected devices operate in wireless networking environments where such unauthorized access could lead to service interruption, data interception, or complete network compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers could use this bypass to enumerate and exploit additional weaknesses within the network infrastructure. The lack of proper authentication enforcement creates a persistent security risk that remains active until the device firmware is updated or the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Libre Wireless to address the authentication bypass flaw. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments and monitor for unauthorized access attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing network access controls, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious API access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in network device management interfaces and serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust authentication mechanisms in all administrative access points. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust network architectures that minimize the attack surface by requiring verification of all access attempts regardless of the user's location or previous authentication status.