CVE-2022-40109 in A3002R
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2022
TOTOLINK A3002R TOTOLINK-A3002R-He-V1.1.1-B20200824.0128 is vulnerable to Insecure Permissions via binary /bin/boa.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-40109 affects the TOTOLINK A3002R router firmware version TOTOLINK-A3002R-He-V1.1.1-B20200824.0128 and represents a critical insecure permissions flaw within the device's binary file system. This issue manifests through the /bin/boa binary which serves as the web server component for the router's administrative interface. The insecure permissions allow unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code on the device, fundamentally compromising the security posture of the network gateway. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to enforce proper privilege separation between normal user operations and administrative functions.
The technical flaw resides in the misconfiguration of file permissions for the /bin/boa binary which controls the web-based management interface. This binary, when executed with elevated privileges, should only be accessible to authorized administrative users but instead allows unauthorized access due to overly permissive file permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which specifically addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and represents a classic privilege escalation vector that enables attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute malicious commands with root-level privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized network access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass full system control and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate router configurations, redirect traffic, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning as routers serve as critical network gateways, making this vulnerability a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access points within corporate or residential networks. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1566, covering 'Phishing for Information', as the exploitation could enable further reconnaissance and lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from TOTOLINK to address the insecure permissions issue. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous behavior from compromised devices. The recommended approach includes verifying file permissions on the /bin/boa binary and ensuring proper access controls are enforced through chmod operations that restrict execution to authorized users only. Additionally, implementing network access controls and regular security audits can help identify similar permission misconfigurations across other network devices. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability represents a common attack vector for network-based compromise and should be addressed through both immediate patching and ongoing security monitoring protocols.