CVE-2022-30474 in AC18
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2022
Tenda AC Series Router AC18_V15.03.05.19(6318) was discovered to contain a heap overflow in the httpd module when handling /goform/saveParentControlInfo request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-30474 represents a critical heap overflow condition within the Tenda AC Series router firmware version AC18_V15.03.05.19(6318) affecting the httpd web server module. This issue manifests specifically when processing the /goform/saveParentControlInfo HTTP request, indicating a potential attack surface through web-based exploitation. The heap overflow vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and memory management within the router's web interface handling mechanism, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on the affected device.
The technical flaw stems from improper bounds checking during the processing of user-supplied data within the parent control configuration functionality. When the httpd module receives a specially crafted request to the saveParentControlInfo endpoint, it fails to adequately validate the length and format of incoming parameters before storing them in heap memory. This memory corruption vulnerability allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to stack smashing, heap corruption, or more severe memory layout disruptions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in web application components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides potential attackers with pathways to gain unauthorized access to the router's administrative interface and underlying system. Successful exploitation could enable remote code execution, allowing attackers to modify network configurations, implement malicious parent control rules, or establish persistent access points within the network. The vulnerability affects devices that rely on the httpd module for web-based management, potentially compromising thousands of home and small office networks. Network reconnaissance activities targeting devices running affected firmware versions could lead to widespread exploitation across multiple geographic regions and network types.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Tenda to address the heap overflow vulnerability in the httpd module. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks. Monitoring for unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized configuration changes on affected routers can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malformed requests targeting the vulnerable /goform/saveParentControlInfo endpoint. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments for embedded network devices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol traffic filtering and T1547.001 for persistence mechanisms through web-based management interfaces. Organizations should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar issues in other embedded devices that may be running outdated firmware versions.