CVE-2023-24049 in AC21000 G6
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2023
An issue was discovered on Connectize AC21000 G6 641.139.1.1256 allows attackers to gain escalated privileges on the device via poor credential management.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2025
The Connectize AC21000 G6 router firmware version 641.139.1.1256 contains a critical privilege escalation vulnerability stemming from inadequate credential management practices that directly enables unauthorized administrative access. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the device's authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and assume elevated privileges without proper authentication. The issue manifests through improper handling of user credentials and session management, creating pathways for malicious actors to escalate their access level from standard user to administrative privileges. The vulnerability directly impacts the device's core security model and compromises the integrity of its access control framework.
This technical flaw operates through a combination of weak credential storage practices and insufficient privilege validation mechanisms within the router's firmware architecture. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging default credentials or by manipulating existing user sessions to gain administrative access. The vulnerability may stem from hardcoded administrative credentials, improper session token handling, or insecure credential storage that allows attackers to extract or predict administrative access information. The flaw aligns with common security weaknesses documented in the CWE database under categories related to credential management and privilege escalation. The attack vector typically involves initial access through network reconnaissance followed by exploitation of the credential management weakness to escalate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating significant risks for network security and data integrity. Once attackers achieve administrative privileges, they can modify router configurations, install malicious firmware, redirect network traffic, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The compromised device becomes a potential pivot point for lateral movement attacks against other network segments, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments. Network administrators lose visibility into critical network operations, and the device may be used to facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks or to serve as an entry point for more extensive network breaches. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of network infrastructure devices and creates persistent threats that can remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through firmware updates from Connectize, which should address the credential management flaws and implement proper privilege separation mechanisms. Network administrators should conduct immediate inventory checks to identify affected devices and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation. The implementation of strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication where possible, should be considered as additional protective measures. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative access patterns or configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to limit access to administrative interfaces from trusted networks only. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure credential management practices and proper privilege escalation controls as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks and standards such as those recommended by nist and iso 27001. The attack surface can be reduced through proper network architecture design and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar credential management weaknesses across the organization's infrastructure.