CVE-2022-28913 in N600R
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2022
TOTOLink N600R V5.3c.7159_B20190425 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the filename parameter in /setting/setUploadSetting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28913 represents a critical command injection flaw within the TOTOLink N600R router firmware version V5.3c.7159_B20190425. This issue resides in the web interface's file upload functionality, specifically within the /setting/setUploadSetting endpoint where the filename parameter is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The affected device operates under the assumption that user-provided input will be benign, creating an exploitable condition where malicious commands can be executed with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77 which defines command injection as the improper handling of externally provided input that is interpreted as commands by the application. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing attackers to inject operating system commands that will be executed by the router's underlying system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the affected router. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain full control over the device, potentially leading to network compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists within the router's administrative interface, which typically requires minimal authentication to access. This means that even unauthenticated attackers could potentially exploit the flaw, especially if default credentials are in use or if the device is exposed to untrusted networks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of malicious commands through vulnerable applications. The command injection occurs at the application layer where user input flows directly into system execution contexts without proper contextual escaping or validation mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28913 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening of the affected TOTOLink N600R devices. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor's official firmware update that patches the input validation flaw in the setUploadSetting endpoint. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices from untrusted networks and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and regularly auditing device configurations. Security professionals should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input before it reaches the vulnerable endpoint. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 A03:2021 and the corresponding mitigations for command injection flaws. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar patterns in other network devices that may be susceptible to command injection attacks. Regular firmware updates and security monitoring are essential to maintain protection against evolving threats that may exploit similar vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components.