CVE-2024-12912 in ASUS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
An improper input insertion vulnerability in AiCloud on certain router models may lead to arbitrary command execution. Refer to the '01/02/2025 ASUS Router AiCloud vulnerability' section on the ASUS Security Advisory for more information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-12912 represents a critical security flaw in AiCloud functionality across specific ASUS router models, classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-94 - Improper Control of Generation of Code. This weakness occurs when a software application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into executable code or system commands. The vulnerability manifests within the AiCloud component of ASUS routers, which serves as a cloud-based service integration for device management and remote access capabilities. When exploited, this flaw allows attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed with elevated privileges by the router's operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the AiCloud service interface. Attackers can manipulate input parameters through specially crafted requests that bypass normal validation checks, enabling them to inject arbitrary commands directly into the router's command execution pipeline. This occurs because the system does not properly escape or filter user-provided data before passing it to system commands or shell interpreters. The vulnerability affects specific ASUS router models that implement AiCloud functionality, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on these devices for network infrastructure management. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that AiCloud typically operates with administrative privileges, providing attackers with elevated access to the underlying router operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, creating a comprehensive security risk landscape for affected networks. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain persistent access to the router's administrative interface, modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or establish backdoor access points. The vulnerability's potential for arbitrary command execution places organizations at risk of data breaches, network infiltration, and service disruption. From a threat actor perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as it enables similar command injection capabilities. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, particularly in environments governed by standards such as NIST 800-53 or ISO 27001, where unpatched vulnerabilities can constitute security control failures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-12912 require immediate action from network administrators to address the root cause through proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided security patches released by ASUS as part of their security advisory. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized configuration changes. Additional defensive measures include disabling AiCloud functionality when not required, implementing network access controls to restrict external access to router management interfaces, and conducting regular security audits of network infrastructure components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental security controls, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from emerging in future implementations.