CVE-2022-38564 in Tenda
Summary
by MITRE • 08/28/2022
Tenda M3 V1.0.0.12(4856) was discovered to contain a buffer overflow vulnerability in the function formSetPicListItem. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via the adItemUID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38564 affects the Tenda M3 router firmware version 1.0.0.12(4856) and represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the formSetPicListItem function. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The affected device operates as a wireless router and gateway, making it a prime target for network-level attacks that could compromise home or small office network security. The vulnerability manifests when the adItemUID parameter is processed through the vulnerable function, indicating that the application fails to properly validate input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the router's web interface handling mechanism where user-supplied parameters are directly passed to memory allocation functions without adequate bounds checking. When an attacker submits a maliciously crafted adItemUID parameter exceeding the allocated buffer size, the overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations, potentially overwriting critical program variables, return addresses, or function pointers. This memory corruption directly leads to the denial of service condition where the router's web management interface becomes unresponsive or the entire device may crash and require manual rebooting. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the device's network interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for network administrators and end users who rely on the router for network connectivity. The denial of service condition effectively renders the device unusable for its intended purpose, disrupting network services and potentially exposing the network to further attacks during the recovery period. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as compromised routers can serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the device is part of a larger network infrastructure. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly exploited in IoT device attacks, aligning with tactics documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1210 technique for exploiting vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Tenda, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific buffer overflow condition. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to router management interfaces and consider disabling unnecessary web services when possible. The implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability, while regular security audits should verify that all network devices have been updated to patched versions. Additionally, organizations should maintain detailed network documentation to track which devices are running vulnerable firmware versions and establish procedures for rapid response to similar vulnerabilities discovered in network infrastructure equipment.