CVE-2022-29323 in DIR-816 A2
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2022
D-Link DIR-816 A2_v1.10CNB04 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the MAC parameter in /goform/editassignment.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29323 affects D-Link DIR-816 A2 routers running firmware version 1.10CNB04 and potentially other variants within the same product line. This issue manifests as a stack overflow condition that occurs when processing the MAC parameter within the /goform/editassignment web endpoint. The affected device is a consumer-grade wireless router that serves as a network gateway, making it a critical component in home and small office network infrastructures where it handles various network management functions including MAC address filtering and assignment.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface handling of the MAC parameter. When a malformed or excessively long MAC address string is submitted through the editassignment form, the device fails to properly sanitize or bounds-check the input before processing it on the stack memory. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious payload that exceeds the allocated stack buffer space, resulting in a stack overflow condition that can corrupt adjacent memory locations and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented and dangerous class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a potential path to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain root access to the router's operating system, allowing them to modify network configurations, intercept network traffic, establish persistent backdoors, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the router serves as a network gateway, as it could provide attackers with a foothold to compromise the entire network infrastructure. The attack surface is relatively accessible since the vulnerability exists in a web-based management interface that is typically exposed to the internet for remote administration purposes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from D-Link, as the manufacturer has likely released patches addressing this specific issue. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of such devices to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include disabling remote management features when not actively needed, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity related to the affected endpoint. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.007 technique for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the device. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected devices within their network infrastructure and implement proper network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts.