CVE-2022-35534 in WN572HP3
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2022
WAVLINK WN572HP3, WN533A8, WN530H4, WN535G3, WN531P3 wireless.cgi has no filtering on parameter hiddenSSID32g and SSID2G2, which leads to command injection in page /wifi_multi_ssid.shtml.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35534 affects several WAVLINK wireless router models including WN572HP3, WN533A8, WN530H4, WN535G3, and WN531P3. This security flaw resides in the wireless.cgi script which handles wireless configuration parameters. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web interface, specifically targeting the hiddenSSID32g and SSID2G2 parameters. These parameters are processed without proper filtering, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands through the /wifi_multi_ssid.shtml page. The vulnerability represents a classic command injection flaw that allows unauthorized users to execute system commands on the affected devices with the privileges of the web server process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the wireless configuration parameters that are passed to the wireless.cgi script. When the hiddenSSID32g and SSID2G2 parameters are submitted via the web interface, the system fails to validate or sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into system commands. This lack of input filtering creates a direct injection vector where attackers can append malicious commands to the legitimate parameters, effectively bypassing normal access controls and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the web application level, allowing remote exploitation without requiring physical access to the device or prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to the router's underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete device compromise. The injected commands could enable attackers to modify network configurations, establish persistent backdoors, extract sensitive information such as administrative credentials, or even use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. Given that these are wireless routers, the compromise could result in widespread network infiltration and data exfiltration across connected devices. The vulnerability affects both the management interface and the wireless network functionality, making it a critical concern for network security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms across all user-controllable parameters. The recommended approach involves applying strict parameter filtering to prevent special characters and command delimiters from being processed as part of the input. Network administrators should ensure that firmware updates are applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as WAVLINK has likely released patches to resolve the issue. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact of exploitation, while monitoring network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns can aid in early detection of attempted exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89 categories related to command injection and SQL injection, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving command and scripting interpreter execution and privilege escalation. Regular security assessments and network monitoring should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components.