CVE-2023-4711 in DAR-8000-10
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in D-Link DAR-8000-10 up to 20230819. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /log/decodmail.php. The manipulation of the argument file leads to os command injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-238574 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. 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 • 06/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4711 represents a critical os command injection flaw in D-Link DAR-8000-10 routers with firmware versions up to 20230819. This vulnerability specifically affects the /log/decodmail.php file which processes user-supplied input through a file argument parameter. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious operating system commands directly into the router's execution environment, potentially enabling full system compromise. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its remote exploitability and the severe privileges that could be gained through successful exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the established patterns of os command injection attacks where user-controllable input is improperly sanitized and directly passed to system execution functions. In this case, the file argument in decodmail.php serves as the attack vector, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to submit malicious input that gets executed as shell commands on the affected device. The high attack complexity and difficulty of exploitation suggest that additional protections or specific conditions may be required to successfully leverage this vulnerability, though the public disclosure of the exploit means that determined attackers can likely overcome these barriers. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses os command injection flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain root access to the router, enabling them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install persistent backdoors, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The affected D-Link router serves as a gateway device for network traffic, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks. The fact that no response was received from the vendor after early contact indicates a potential gap in the security disclosure process and leaves users exposed to continued risk.
Organizations and individuals should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates from D-Link if available, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's public disclosure status necessitates immediate action since attackers can readily develop and deploy exploitation tools. Network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify command injection patterns and monitor for unauthorized access attempts to the affected router interface. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071.004 for application layer protocol. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, it is imperative that affected users take immediate steps to secure their network infrastructure and consider alternative network access methods until proper patches are implemented.