CVE-2023-31569 in X5000R
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2023
TOTOLINK X5000R V9.1.0cu.2350_B20230313 was discovered to contain a command injection via the setWanCfg function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-31569 affects the TOTOLINK X5000R router model running firmware version V9.1.0cu.2350_B20230313 and represents a critical command injection flaw within the setWanCfg function. This vulnerability resides in the router's web-based management interface where user inputs are improperly sanitized before being processed and executed within the system's command shell. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious commands that will be executed with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the setWanCfg function which handles WAN configuration parameters. When administrators or authenticated users submit configuration data through the web interface, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as command delimiters or injection points. This weakness directly maps to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution contexts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level where commands are executed without proper privilege separation, allowing attackers to leverage the web application's execution context to perform arbitrary code execution.
Operationally, this command injection vulnerability presents severe implications for network security and device integrity. An attacker who gains access to the router's web interface could execute system commands such as spawning reverse shells, modifying firewall rules, accessing internal network resources, or even installing persistent backdoors. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, as routers often serve as central points of control and security enforcement within local networks. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 which addresses exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant threat vector for both initial access and lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-31569 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from TOTOLINK to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Network administrators must also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the router's management interface. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect injection attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces and implementing multi-factor authentication for router access to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network device firmware and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of embedded systems before deployment in production environments.