CVE-2023-33638 in Magic R300
Summary
by MITRE • 06/01/2023
H3C Magic R300 version R300-2100MV100R004 was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the Edit_BasicSSID_5G interface at /goform/aspForm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33638 affects H3C Magic R300 wireless access point devices running firmware version R300-2100MV100R004. This critical security flaw exists within the device's web-based management interface, specifically in the Edit_BasicSSID_5G endpoint located at the /goform/aspForm URI path. The vulnerability manifests as a stack overflow condition that occurs when processing user-supplied input through the wireless network configuration interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the firmware's handling of the Edit_BasicSSID_5G parameter. When an attacker sends a crafted HTTP request containing excessive data to the vulnerable endpoint, the device's stack buffer fails to properly validate the input length, leading to a stack overflow condition. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which represents a fundamental flaw in memory management where data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated stack space. The attack vector involves remote exploitation through the web interface without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may unknowingly interact with compromised devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device instability, as it presents significant risks for unauthorized access and potential system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could achieve arbitrary code execution on the affected device, potentially leading to complete network takeover. The stack overflow condition could cause the device to crash and restart, creating denial of service conditions, or more critically, allow an attacker to inject malicious code that could persist across reboots. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services, T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1566 Impersonation of Target.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33638 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from H3C, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific stack overflow condition. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected devices and monitor for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web interfaces, implementing strong access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in embedded systems, particularly those handling user-facing web interfaces. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts, as these attacks often generate specific network signatures that can be detected and blocked at the network perimeter.