CVE-2022-28910 in N600R
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2022
TOTOLink N600R V5.3c.7159_B20190425 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the devicename parameter in /setting/setDeviceName.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28910 affects TOTOLink N600R routers running firmware version V5.3c.7159_B20190425 and represents a critical command injection flaw that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device. This vulnerability exists within the web interface of the router where the devicename parameter in the /setting/setDeviceName endpoint fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious command execution. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that permit attackers to inject operating system commands through the device name field, which is typically used for network device identification purposes. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into command execution contexts without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected router's operating system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with administrative rights on the device. This means that malicious actors could potentially modify router configurations, install malware, create backdoors, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it highly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise network infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachment, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and conduct further network reconnaissance.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites, as attackers only need to send a specially crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint. The injection occurs when the devicename parameter contains command separators or shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that are interpreted by the underlying shell. This allows attackers to chain multiple commands together, potentially executing commands like 'ls', 'cat', or even 'nc' for network connectivity. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to properly validate and sanitize input data, particularly in the context of web application security where user input should never be trusted and must be properly escaped or encoded before being processed. Network administrators and security professionals should be aware that this vulnerability can lead to complete device compromise and potential network infiltration, as routers often serve as critical gateways for network traffic and security policies. The affected TOTOLink N600R devices are particularly vulnerable because they lack proper input validation mechanisms in their web management interface, which is a common pattern in embedded devices where security considerations are often secondary to functionality. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates from the vendor, network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules at the network perimeter can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.