CVE-2023-34283 in RAX30
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
NETGEAR RAX30 USB Share Link Following Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows physically present attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of NETGEAR RAX30 routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the handling of symbolic links on removable USB media. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the router's web server to access arbitrary local files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose information in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-19498.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2025
The CVE-2023-34283 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw in NETGEAR RAX30 routers that stems from improper handling of symbolic links on removable USB storage devices. This vulnerability falls under the category of path traversal and information disclosure issues, with direct implications for device security and data protection. The flaw specifically manifests within the router's web server implementation when processing symbolic links that point to local files on connected USB media. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication and can be exploited by attackers who have physical access to the device, making it a significant risk in environments where unauthorized physical access is possible. The vulnerability was identified and reported as ZDI-CAN-19498, highlighting its severity and the need for immediate remediation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the router's web server failing to properly validate or sanitize symbolic link references when serving content from USB storage devices. When a symbolic link is created on a USB drive connected to the router, the web server does not adequately restrict access to arbitrary local files on the device's filesystem. This allows an attacker with physical access to create a malicious symbolic link that points to sensitive system files or configuration data. The vulnerability enables attackers to leverage the router's web interface to traverse the filesystem and access files that should normally be restricted, potentially including system configuration files, user credentials, or other sensitive information. The exploitation occurs in the context of root privileges, meaning that the attacker can access the most privileged files on the system, which aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal) classifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potentially sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation or system compromise. An attacker with physical access could gain access to router configuration files that might contain administrative credentials, network settings, or other configuration data that could be used to escalate privileges or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor access mechanism that bypasses normal authentication and authorization controls, allowing attackers to extract information from the device's local storage without requiring any network-based access or authentication credentials. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where physical security controls may be insufficient or where devices are located in accessible areas. The attack vector is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) in scenarios where an attacker physically accesses a device and uses this vulnerability to extract information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-34283 should focus on both immediate and long-term security measures. The most effective immediate solution is to update the router firmware to the latest version provided by NETGEAR, which should contain patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to router devices, including securing device locations and implementing access controls. Network administrators should review and restrict USB storage access permissions where possible, and consider disabling USB storage functionality entirely if it is not essential for operations. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual file access patterns or web server requests could help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms in embedded systems, particularly those with web interfaces that handle user-provided content. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other devices and ensure that all firmware and software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches.