CVE-2023-52162 in MW325R EU V3
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
Mercusys MW325R EU V3 (Firmware MW325R(EU)_V3_1.11.0 Build 221019) is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code. Exploiting the vulnerability requires authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2024
The CVE-2023-52162 vulnerability affects the Mercusys MW325R EU V3 wireless router firmware version MW325R(EU)_V3_1.11.0 Build 221019 and represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw that could enable remote code execution. This vulnerability resides within the device's firmware implementation and specifically targets the stack memory management during processing of user-supplied input. The flaw manifests when the device handles certain network requests or configuration parameters that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing a stack overflow condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability requires prior authentication to exploit, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to the device before attempting to leverage the buffer overflow. This authentication requirement does not mitigate the severity of the vulnerability, as unauthorized access to device credentials remains a common attack vector through various means including default credential exploitation, credential stuffing attacks, or social engineering. The stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability falls under CWE-121 which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user submits malicious input to the device's web interface or API endpoints that process user data without proper input validation. The firmware fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers, creating an opportunity for an attacker to overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack memory locations. This allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process running on the device, typically corresponding to the root user level. The attack surface includes various configuration interfaces, administrative functions, and network management parameters that accept user input. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it could enable full device compromise, allowing attackers to modify network configurations, establish persistent backdoors, or use the device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. Network attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to the local network, modify firewall rules, or redirect traffic through the compromised device.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-52162 is severe for organizations and individuals who rely on the Mercusys MW325R EU V3 router for network connectivity and security. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to completely compromise the device, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, or unauthorized access to network resources. The device's role as a network gateway makes it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within a network environment. The vulnerability could be leveraged to create a command and control channel, enabling attackers to exfiltrate data, deploy additional malware, or use the compromised device for distributed denial-of-service attacks. Given that many organizations use default or weak credentials for network devices, the authentication requirement does not provide meaningful protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also impacts network availability as attackers could potentially cause device crashes or reboots through malformed input, creating denial-of-service conditions that disrupt network operations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the compromised device.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52162 should include immediate firmware updates from Mercusys if available, as the vendor may have released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the attack surface and prevent lateral movement if a device becomes compromised. Regular credential rotation and enforcement of strong authentication policies can reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation attempts. Network monitoring should include detection of unusual traffic patterns or malformed requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of network infrastructure to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the organization's device inventory. The implementation of web application firewalls and network access controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should disable unnecessary services and ports on the device, reduce the attack surface by limiting administrative access to trusted networks, and implement proper network monitoring to detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing device integrity checking mechanisms to detect unauthorized firmware modifications that could indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.