CVE-2022-25083 in A860R
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
TOTOLink A860R V4.1.2cu.5182_B20201027 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability in the "Main" function. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the QUERY_STRING parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25083 affects the TOTOLink A860R router model running firmware version V4.1.2cu.5182_B20201027 and represents a critical command injection flaw within the device's web interface. This vulnerability resides in the "Main" function of the router's embedded web server implementation, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. The affected parameter is the QUERY_STRING, which is commonly used in web applications to pass data to server-side scripts through URL parameters. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs containing specially formatted command sequences that bypass input filtering mechanisms and are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web server process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the established patterns of command injection attacks as categorized under CWE-77 and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection. When the router processes HTTP requests containing malicious QUERY_STRING parameters, the web server fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as shell commands. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands that execute on the underlying operating system, potentially gaining full administrative control over the device. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer of the router's software stack and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or physical access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete device compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute commands with root privileges, potentially leading to persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, or use of the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other networked systems. The vulnerability affects not only the router's local network but also presents risks to connected devices and external network resources. The compromised device could be used to launch further attacks, serve as a command and control server, or provide attackers with a persistent foothold within the network infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where network devices serve as critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25083 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from TOTOLink to address the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices and establish monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also disable unnecessary web management interfaces and implement strict access controls to minimize attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper sanitization of user-supplied data in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-160 and OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of network infrastructure help identify similar vulnerabilities across the organization's device inventory.