CVE-2023-46060 in AC500
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
A Buffer Overflow vulnerability in Tenda AC500 v.2.0.1.9 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the port parameter at the goform/setVlanInfo component.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2025
The buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46060 affects the Tenda AC500 router firmware version 2.0.1.9 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This vulnerability resides within the goform/setVlanInfo component of the device's web interface, specifically targeting the port parameter handling mechanism. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when processing user-supplied data through the web management interface, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by unauthorized actors without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the router's firmware codebase, where the device fails to adequately validate the length of the port parameter before processing it within a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs when an attacker supplies input data that exceeds the allocated buffer capacity, leading to memory corruption that can cause the affected component to crash or behave unpredictably. The vulnerability manifests through the web form interface that manages vlan configuration parameters, making it accessible to remote attackers who can craft malicious requests to trigger the overflow condition. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard http requests targeting the vulnerable component, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized tools or privileges beyond network access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks if attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to execute arbitrary code or gain deeper system access. While the current reported impact is limited to denial of service, the underlying buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability affects the router's ability to maintain stable network operations, potentially disrupting network connectivity for all devices connected through the affected access point. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple devices may be running the same vulnerable firmware version, creating cascading effects that can impact large network segments. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability is accessible through the standard web management interface, making it trivial for attackers to identify and exploit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Tenda to address the buffer overflow condition, along with network segmentation to limit access to the affected management interface. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns or attempts to access the vulnerable component, while also considering temporary network access restrictions to the affected devices until patches are deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 which describes unsafe use of stack-based buffer and represents a classic example of the types of flaws that fall under the ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation of remote services. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests targeting the vulnerable goform/setVlanInfo endpoint, while establishing robust patch management procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through outdated firmware versions. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure components should include checks for similar buffer overflow conditions in other network devices and firmware versions to ensure comprehensive protection against such threats.