CVE-2022-36458 in A3700R
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2022
TOTOLINK A3700R V9.1.2u.6134_B20201202 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the command parameter in the function setTracerouteCfg.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36458 represents a critical command injection flaw within the TOTOLINK A3700R router firmware version V9.1.2u.6134_B20201202. This issue resides in the setTracerouteCfg function where the command parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data within the router's web interface administration functionality. The affected device operates with elevated privileges, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system and potentially escalate their privileges further.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where user-controllable parameters are directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. When an attacker submits malicious input through the command parameter in the setTracerouteCfg function, the system processes this input without adequate validation, leading to the execution of unintended shell commands. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 which categorizes command injection vulnerabilities, and specifically relates to CWE-78 which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input filtering and output encoding that should be implemented according to secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to remote code execution, data exfiltration, network reconnaissance, and potential lateral movement within the compromised network. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify router configurations, redirect traffic, or even use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The implications are particularly severe given that routers serve as critical network infrastructure components, making this vulnerability a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to network environments. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1021 which addresses remote services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from TOTOLINK to address the identified command injection flaw, along with network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms at all levels of their network infrastructure, particularly in web applications and administrative interfaces. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious command execution patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in network equipment. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices, proper input validation, and regular security testing as recommended by NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network access controls and disabling unnecessary services to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.