CVE-2023-3333 in Aterm WG2200HP
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2023
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerability in NEC Corporation Aterm WG2200HP all versions allows a attacker to execute an arbitrary OS command with the root privilege, after obtaining a high privilege exploiting CVE-2023-3330 and CVE-2023-3331 vulnerabilities.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3333 represents a critical improper neutralization of special elements in operating system command execution within NEC Corporation's Aterm WG2200HP wireless router firmware. This flaw exists in all versions of the device and constitutes a severe security weakness that allows attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary operating system commands with root-level permissions. The vulnerability requires prior exploitation of two additional vulnerabilities CVE-2023-3330 and CVE-2023-3331 to achieve full system compromise, demonstrating a chained attack methodology that exploits multiple weaknesses in sequence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and command injection handling within the router's web interface or management protocols. When user-supplied data containing special command characters is processed without proper sanitization, attackers can inject malicious OS commands that get executed by the underlying operating system. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, and specifically aligns with CWE-78 which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands. The attack vector typically involves manipulating parameters in HTTP requests or API calls that are subsequently passed to system commands without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3333 is devastating as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected devices, enabling them to modify network configurations, install malicious software, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the compromised routers as entry points for broader network attacks. The privilege escalation aspect means that even if an attacker initially gains access through a lower-privilege account, they can leverage this vulnerability to achieve root access and full system control. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these devices often serve as network gateways.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NEC Corporation to address the command injection flaw, along with comprehensive network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly for devices handling user-supplied data that gets processed by system commands, emphasizing the need for proper parameter sanitization and command escaping mechanisms as recommended by industry security frameworks and standards.