CVE-2022-36779 in M330-w
Summary
by MITRE • 09/13/2022
PROSCEND - PROSCEND / ADVICE .Ltd - G/5G Industrial Cellular Router (with GPS)4 Unauthenticated OS Command Injection Proscend M330-w / M33-W5 / M350-5G / M350-W5G / M350-6 / M350-W6 / M301-G / M301-GW ADVICE ICR 111WG / https://www.proscend.com/en/category/industrial-Cellular-Router/industrial-Cellular-Router.html https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0036/9413/3297/files/ADVICE_Industrial_4G_LTE_Cellular_Router_ICR111WG.pdf?v=1620814301
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2022
The CVE-2022-36779 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated operating system command injection flaw affecting PROSCEND industrial cellular routers including models M330-w, M33-W5, M350-5G, M350-W5G, M350-6, M350-W6, M301-G, and M301-GW alongside the ADVICE ICR 111WG device. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of these industrial networking devices, which are specifically designed for harsh industrial environments and typically deployed in critical infrastructure applications. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the router's web server implementation, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands without requiring authentication credentials. The affected devices are commonly used in industrial control systems, smart grid deployments, and remote monitoring applications where their reliability and security are paramount.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters within the web interface, particularly targeting the device's command execution mechanisms. Attackers can inject malicious commands through various parameters that are processed by the underlying operating system, potentially gaining full administrative control over the device. The vulnerability manifests as a classic command injection flaw, classified under CWE-77 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses the execution of untrusted commands. This weakness allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious payloads that are passed through HTTP requests to the vulnerable web interface, where they are subsequently interpreted and executed by the device's operating system shell.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple device compromise, particularly in industrial settings where these routers serve as critical communication endpoints for remote monitoring and control systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete control over the affected industrial cellular router, potentially leading to unauthorized access to connected industrial networks, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical communication services. The implications are particularly severe in environments such as smart grids, water treatment facilities, or manufacturing plants where industrial control systems rely on secure communication pathways. The vulnerability affects devices that are often deployed in remote locations with limited physical access, making detection and remediation more challenging. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1021.004 (Remote Services: SSH) as attackers can leverage the compromised device for lateral movement and establish persistent access points within industrial networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for industrial infrastructure deployments. The primary recommendation involves applying vendor-provided firmware updates that address the command injection flaw through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these industrial devices, ensuring that only authorized management systems can communicate with the routers. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing network access controls, and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify command injection attempts targeting industrial control equipment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in industrial networking equipment, emphasizing the need for input validation at multiple layers of the application stack and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 for industrial control systems security.