CVE-2023-51956 in AX1803
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2024
Tenda AX1803 v1.0.0.1 contains a stack overflow via the iptv.city.vlan parameter in the function formSetIptv
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-51956 affects the Tenda AX1803 router firmware version 1.0.0.1 and represents a critical stack overflow condition that can be exploited through the iptv.city.vlan parameter within the formSetIptv function. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where data written to a buffer exceeds the allocated stack space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing an excessively long string in the iptv.city.vlan parameter, causing the router's firmware to write beyond the bounds of the allocated stack buffer during processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the web interface's form handling mechanism, specifically targeting the formSetIptv function that processes IPTV configuration parameters. When the router processes the malformed iptv.city.vlan parameter, the insufficient input validation and bounds checking allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses and control registers. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the router's command execution environment. The stack overflow creates a predictable memory corruption scenario that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with administrative privileges on the router. This compromise allows for complete control over the device's network configuration, enabling attackers to redirect traffic, establish backdoors, or use the compromised router as a pivot point for attacking other devices within the local network. The vulnerability affects the router's administrative interface, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring physical access or authentication credentials. Network traffic passing through the compromised device could be intercepted, modified, or redirected, potentially compromising the security of all connected devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Tenda to address the stack overflow condition through proper input validation and buffer size enforcement. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of a compromised device within the network infrastructure. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments of network devices should include vulnerability scanning to identify unpatched firmware versions. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary services such as IPTV configuration interfaces when not actively required, reducing the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices including bounds checking, input validation, and proper error handling in embedded systems, aligning with security standards such as NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 for secure system development and maintenance.