CVE-2022-26214 in A800R
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2022
Totolink A830R V5.9c.4729_B20191112, A3100R V4.1.2cu.5050_B20200504, A950RG V4.1.2cu.5161_B20200903, A800R V4.1.2cu.5137_B20200730, A3000RU V5.9c.5185_B20201128, and A810R V4.1.2cu.5182_B20201026 were discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability in the function NTPSyncWithHost. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the host_time parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26214 affects multiple Totolink router models including A830R, A3100R, A950RG, A800R, A3000RU, and A810R, all running specific firmware versions from 2019 and 2020. This command injection flaw exists within the NTPSyncWithHost function, which is responsible for synchronizing network time protocol settings with a host server. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the host_time parameter, which is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed by the device's underlying command execution mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the router's firmware code. When an attacker submits a malicious value through the host_time parameter, the system directly incorporates this input into system commands without proper escaping or filtering of special characters. This allows attackers to inject additional commands that execute with the privileges of the affected router's system process, typically running with administrative or root-level permissions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws, and represents a critical weakness in the device's input handling architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker with network access to the affected routers can execute arbitrary commands remotely, potentially gaining full control over the device's functionality. This includes the ability to modify network configurations, install malicious software, redirect traffic, or establish backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability can be exploited without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it allows for unauthorized access to network infrastructure devices. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.001 for remote services, enabling attackers to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data from within the network perimeter.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Totolink, as the manufacturer would have released patches addressing the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns or command execution attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious parameter values in HTTP requests targeting router management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of network infrastructure devices before deployment in production environments.