CVE-2021-46353 in DIR-X1860
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2022
An information disclosure in web interface in D-Link DIR-X1860 before 1.03 RevA1 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to send a specially crafted HTTP request and gain knowledge of different absolute paths that are being used by the web application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-46353 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the web interface of D-Link DIR-X1860 routers running firmware versions prior to 1.03 RevA1. This security weakness enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive absolute path information through carefully crafted HTTP requests without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw resides in the web application's improper handling of user requests, specifically in how it processes and responds to certain HTTP methods or parameters that reveal internal filesystem structures.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure as classified by CWE-200, where the application inadvertently exposes internal system details through its web interface. The affected device's web server implementation fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming HTTP requests, allowing an attacker to construct specific payloads that trigger the disclosure of absolute paths used by the web application. These paths typically include directory structures, file locations, and potentially sensitive system information that could aid in subsequent exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information gathering, as path disclosure can serve as a foundational step for more sophisticated attacks within the attack chain defined by MITRE ATT&CK framework. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains knowledge of the router's internal filesystem structure, which can be leveraged to identify potential attack vectors, understand application architecture, and plan further reconnaissance activities. The information obtained may include directory traversal patterns, file system layouts, and potentially sensitive configuration paths that could be targeted in subsequent attacks.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it enables unauthorized discovery of system file structures. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as it allows any remote attacker to exploit the flaw without needing to establish prior access or credentials. Organizations using D-Link DIR-X1860 devices should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 1.03 RevA1 or later, as this represents the official patch provided by the vendor to address the information disclosure issue. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper monitoring and logging of HTTP requests to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider network segmentation to limit the attack surface of affected devices.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in embedded web applications. Devices such as routers and network appliances often contain numerous potential attack vectors, and information disclosure vulnerabilities like this one can significantly weaken overall security posture. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation issues in web server handling can create substantial security risks, particularly when exposed to unauthenticated remote access. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar information disclosure issues in other embedded devices and web applications to prevent cascading security failures.