CVE-2022-25136 in TOTOLINK
Summary
by MITRE • 02/19/2022
A command injection vulnerability in the function meshSlaveUpdate of TOTOLINK Technology routers T6 V3_Firmware T6_V3_V4.1.5cu.748_B20211015 and T10 V2_Firmware V4.1.8cu.5207_B20210320 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted MQTT packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2022
This command injection vulnerability resides within the meshSlaveUpdate function of TOTOLINK routers running specific firmware versions including T6_V3_V4.1.5cu.748_B20211015 and T10 V2_Firmware V4.1.8cu.5207_B20210320. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands by sending specially crafted MQTT packets to the affected devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the mesh slave update functionality, which processes MQTT messages without properly escaping or filtering user-supplied data. This represents a critical security flaw that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94, categorizing it as a command injection vulnerability that allows arbitrary code execution. The operational impact is severe as attackers can gain full control over the affected router, potentially leading to complete network compromise, data exfiltration, or use of the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.001 for remote services. The meshSlaveUpdate function appears to improperly handle MQTT packet data, particularly parameters related to mesh network configuration updates, allowing malicious input to be interpreted as executable commands by the underlying operating system. The attack surface is particularly concerning as MQTT protocol is commonly used for IoT device communication, making this vulnerability exploitable in environments where these routers are deployed. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to establish persistent backdoors, modify router configurations, or redirect network traffic. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices, apply firmware updates from TOTOLINK when available, and monitor for unusual MQTT traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect and block suspicious MQTT packet structures that could indicate exploitation attempts. The root cause demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper command construction practices, where user-controllable data flows directly into system execution contexts without appropriate sanitization or parameterization. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and IoT devices, particularly when handling network protocols that may receive untrusted data from external sources.