CVE-2023-35751 in DAP-2622
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2024
D-Link DAP-2622 DDP Set AG Profile Auth Username Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of D-Link DAP-2622 routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the DDP service. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of root. . Was ZDI-CAN-20079.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2025
The CVE-2023-35751 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in D-Link DAP-2622 wireless access points that enables remote code execution without authentication requirements. This vulnerability specifically affects the DDP (D-Link Device Protocol) service component within the router's firmware, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers who are merely network-adjacent to the device. The flaw resides in the protocol's handling of user-supplied data during the AG Profile authentication username processing, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to overflow a fixed-length stack buffer and overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a high-severity issue in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is amplified by the fact that no authentication credentials are required, making it accessible to any attacker within the network segment that can reach the affected device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the DDP service receives a specially crafted packet containing an excessively long username string in the authentication profile section. The service fails to validate the length of this input before copying it into a predetermined stack buffer, which typically has a fixed size of several hundred bytes. When the input exceeds this buffer capacity, it causes a stack overflow condition that can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical memory segments. This memory corruption allows attackers to redirect execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the highest privilege level available to the DDP service, which in this case corresponds to root privileges on the device. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be initiated from any device on the same network segment, eliminating the need for physical access or prior authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected D-Link DAP-2622 device. Once exploited, attackers can establish persistent backdoors, modify network configurations, intercept and manipulate network traffic, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in the DDP service means that even legitimate network management operations could be compromised, as the service operates continuously and handles various network protocols. Network administrators face significant challenges in detecting such attacks since the exploitation may appear as normal network activity, and the compromised device could be used to launch more sophisticated attacks against other network segments. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, and T1566.001 for credential access through spearphishing attachments, since the device's compromised state could facilitate further credential harvesting.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35751 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from D-Link, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit network adjacency access to critical devices, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts to the DDP service ports. The implementation of network intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts by monitoring for known attack signatures and anomalous behavior patterns. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling unnecessary services and ports on the affected devices, particularly those related to DDP functionality, until proper patches are applied and validated. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network equipment, as this type of stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability is common in embedded networking devices and may indicate broader architectural weaknesses in the firmware implementation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and bounds checking in network protocol implementations, which aligns with security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-144 and ISO/IEC 27001.