CVE-2022-34045 in WN530HG4 M30HG4
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2022
Wavlink WN530HG4 M30HG4.V5030.191116 was discovered to contain a hardcoded encryption/decryption key for its configuration files at /etc_ro/lighttpd/www/cgi-bin/ExportAllSettings.sh.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34045 affects Wavlink WN530HG4 and M30HG4.V5030.191116 wireless routers, representing a critical security flaw in network infrastructure devices. This issue stems from the presence of a hardcoded encryption key within the device's firmware, specifically located in the configuration file export script at /etc_ro/lighttpd/www/cgi-bin/ExportAllSettings.sh. The discovery of such a vulnerability indicates a fundamental weakness in the device's security architecture, as hardcoded credentials or keys represent one of the most dangerous practices in secure system design. The presence of a hardcoded key directly violates established security principles and creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to device configurations.
The technical flaw manifests through the use of a static encryption key that remains unchanged across all affected devices, enabling attackers to decrypt configuration files and extract sensitive information. This hardcoded key allows unauthorized parties to access the router's administrative settings, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, access network credentials, or gain complete control over the device. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain confidentiality of its configuration data, as the encryption mechanism becomes ineffective due to the predictable nature of the key. This weakness specifically impacts the router's web-based management interface and its configuration export functionality, which are critical components for device administration and network security management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration access, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to compromise entire network infrastructures. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to network credentials, SSID configurations, firewall rules, and other sensitive network parameters that could be used for further attacks within the local network. The vulnerability's persistence across all devices of the affected model means that any network administrator who has deployed these routers is potentially exposed to risk, regardless of their network security practices. This type of vulnerability also creates challenges for network monitoring and incident response, as the presence of a hardcoded key makes traditional security scanning techniques less effective in identifying compromised devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate device updates and firmware patches provided by the vendor, as well as network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should implement network access controls to limit access to administrative interfaces and consider disabling unnecessary web management services where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the hardcoded key to gain administrative access to network devices. Network administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to device management interfaces, as well as regularly auditing device configurations to identify potential compromise indicators. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure firmware development practices and the necessity of avoiding hardcoded secrets in production systems.