CVE-2023-0127 in DWL-2600AP
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2023
A command injection vulnerability in the firmware_update command, in the device's restricted telnet interface, allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in the firmware update functionality of network devices that operate through a restricted telnet interface. The issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the firmware_update command implementation, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions. The vulnerability specifically affects devices that utilize telnet for administrative access and implement firmware update capabilities through this restricted interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where telnet is still deployed despite known security limitations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the improper handling of user-supplied input during firmware update operations. When an authenticated user submits malicious input through the firmware_update command, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters before incorporating them into system commands. This allows attackers to inject additional commands that bypass the intended execution flow and gain root access to the device. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, with implications for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution within the device's operating environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through command injection, specifically targeting the execution of malicious commands with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected devices and potentially enables them to establish persistent backdoors or use the compromised devices as launching points for further attacks within the network. Devices that rely on telnet interfaces for firmware management become particularly vulnerable since telnet transmits credentials and commands in plaintext, making them susceptible to interception and manipulation. The authenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to execute any command with root privileges, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized access to network resources. This vulnerability also impacts the device's integrity and availability, as attackers can modify firmware, disable security features, or cause system instability through arbitrary command execution.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate credential rotation and the implementation of strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should disable telnet access where possible and migrate to more secure protocols such as SSH for administrative access. The firmware update command implementation requires immediate input validation and sanitization to prevent command injection attacks, with proper escaping of special characters and the implementation of allowlists for acceptable input parameters. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized firmware update activities. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other device management interfaces, with a focus on validating input handling across all administrative functions to prevent similar command injection scenarios from occurring in other system components.