CVE-2023-43752 in WRC-X3000GS2-W
Summary
by MITRE • 11/16/2023
OS command injection vulnerability in WRC-X3000GS2-W v1.05 and earlier, WRC-X3000GS2-B v1.05 and earlier, and WRC-X3000GS2A-B v1.05 and earlier allows a network-adjacent authenticated user to execute an arbitrary OS command by sending a specially crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical os command injection flaw affecting multiple firmware versions of the wrc-x3000gs2 series network devices. The vulnerability exists within the authentication and input processing mechanisms of these industrial networking appliances, which are commonly deployed in enterprise and industrial environments for network management and monitoring purposes. The affected devices include the wrc-x3000gs2-w v1.05 and earlier models, wrc-x3000gs2-b v1.05 and earlier models, and wrc-x3000gs2a-b v1.05 and earlier models, all sharing the same underlying firmware architecture that contains the exploitable code path.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface and api endpoints. An authenticated attacker who has access to the device's management interface can craft malicious requests containing os command injection payloads that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms. This flaw allows the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection issue under cwe-77, which specifically addresses situations where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into operating system commands without proper validation or escaping. The attack vector requires network adjacency, meaning the attacker must be able to communicate directly with the device on the same network segment, but does not require physical access or complex network positioning.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the compromised device and potentially the broader network infrastructure it manages. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, modify network configurations, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The implications are particularly severe in industrial environments where these devices often control critical network operations and may be connected to operational technology networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple firmware variants suggests a widespread issue affecting various deployments, making it a high-priority target for exploitation across different organizational environments. According to the mitre attack framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through system commands execution.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from the vendor to address the command injection flaw, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and enhanced monitoring of network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls, disabling unnecessary network services, and conducting thorough network audits to identify all affected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and the principle of least privilege in network security design, as well as the critical need for regular firmware updates and security assessments of industrial control systems. Security teams should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to detect command injection attempts and monitor for unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.