CVE-2023-3380 in WN579X3
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Wavlink WN579X3 up to 20230615. Affected is an unknown function of the file /cgi-bin/adm.cgi of the component Ping Test. The manipulation of the argument pingIp leads to injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-232236. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2023
This critical vulnerability exists in the Wavlink WN579X3 wireless router firmware version 20230615 and earlier, specifically within the administrative web interface component. The flaw resides in the /cgi-bin/adm.cgi file where the Ping Test functionality processes user input through the pingIp parameter without adequate sanitization or validation. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected device. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables unauthenticated remote code execution, meaning an attacker can exploit this weakness from outside the network without requiring any credentials or prior access.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding practices that directly maps to CWE-77 Command Injection. When an attacker submits malicious input through the pingIp parameter, the system treats this input as executable commands rather than simple data, allowing arbitrary shell commands to be executed with the privileges of the web server process. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the router's administrative interface to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system. The attack vector is remote and accessible via HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or network proximity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected router. This includes the ability to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, establish backdoors, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The compromised device could be used for various malicious activities including but not limited to man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS poisoning, or as part of a botnet. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1021.001 Remote Services, as it enables command execution and remote access to network services. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is known to be exploitable increases the risk significantly, as threat actors can readily implement automated attacks against vulnerable devices.
Organizations and individuals should immediately implement mitigations including disabling remote administration features, applying firmware updates from the vendor when available, and implementing network segmentation to limit the attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or command execution attempts. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts compounds the risk, as users have no assurance that a patched version will be released, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for users who cannot immediately update their firmware. Security teams should consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to administrative ports and services, while also planning for emergency firmware updates or device replacement if no official patches are forthcoming.