CVE-2022-28909 in N600R
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2022
TOTOLink N600R V5.3c.7159_B20190425 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the webwlanidx parameter in /setting/setWebWlanIdx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28909 affects the TOTOLink N600R router model running firmware version V5.3c.7159_B20190425. This device is a wireless router that provides network connectivity and management interfaces through its web-based administration portal. The vulnerability exists within the web application's handling of the webwlanidx parameter, specifically in the /setting/setWebWlanIdx endpoint. The issue represents a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device.
This command injection vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the router's web interface. When the webwlanidx parameter is processed, the system fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into system commands. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-77 based on the Common Weakness Enumeration standards, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where untrusted data is used to construct command strings without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that gets executed as system commands with the privileges of the web application process, typically running with elevated permissions on the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who successfully exploits this command injection flaw can gain complete control over the affected router, potentially leading to unauthorized network access, data interception, or further lateral movement within the network. The attacker could execute commands such as disabling network services, modifying router configurations, establishing persistent backdoors, or using the device as a pivot point to attack other systems on the local network. The vulnerability affects the device's core functionality and security posture, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure that relies on the compromised router for connectivity and access control.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically shell scripting. The attack vector leverages the web interface to inject commands that are then executed by the underlying operating system. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from TOTOLink, network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and network monitoring to detect unusual command execution patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation practices and proper secure coding standards, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and other industry security frameworks, to prevent similar injection flaws in network device implementations.