CVE-2021-37913 in OAKlouds Mobile Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2021
The HGiga OAKlouds mobile portal does not filter special characters of the IPv6 Gateway parameter of the network interface card setting page. Remote attackers can use this vulnerability to perform command injection and execute arbitrary commands in the system without logging in.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2021
The CVE-2021-37913 vulnerability affects the HGiga OAKlouds mobile portal, specifically targeting the network interface card setting page where the IPv6 Gateway parameter is processed. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's backend processing logic. The vulnerability stems from inadequate filtering of special characters in the IPv6 Gateway field, which allows malicious actors to inject command sequences that bypass normal input validation procedures and execute arbitrary code on the underlying system.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple security domains including command injection attacks and insufficient input validation. The flaw directly aligns with CWE-77 which describes command injection vulnerabilities, and CWE-20 which addresses insufficient input validation. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables unauthenticated remote code execution, meaning that any attacker with network access to the affected system can exploit this vulnerability without requiring valid credentials. The IPv6 Gateway parameter processing represents a critical point of entry where user-supplied data flows directly into system commands without proper sanitization, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's underlying operating environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance, install backdoors, modify system configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the affected infrastructure. Given that this affects a mobile portal system, the implications extend beyond traditional network boundaries, potentially exposing mobile devices and their associated data to unauthorized access. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation means that this vulnerability can be exploited at scale without additional credential compromise, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments that rely on such portal systems for mobile connectivity management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-37913 must address the core input validation failure through comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those that may be processed in system contexts. Organizations should implement strict input filtering that removes or encodes special characters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, and other command injection indicators from the IPv6 Gateway parameter. The implementation should follow established security practices including parameterized input validation, output encoding, and proper command execution mechanisms that separate user input from system command processing. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected portal to unauthorized networks, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar validation gaps in other system components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in preventing remote code execution attacks that can compromise entire system infrastructures.
The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of malicious commands through injection techniques. This represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks that may remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to establish long-term access to target systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic analysis of input handling mechanisms and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that protect against multiple attack vectors simultaneously.