CVE-2024-22543 in E1700
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2024
An issue was discovered in Linksys Router E1700 1.0.04 (build 3), allows authenticated attackers to escalate privileges via a crafted GET request to the /goform/* URI or via the ExportSettings function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
This vulnerability affects the Linksys E1700 router firmware version 1.0.04 build 3 and represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that can be exploited by authenticated attackers. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the router's web interface management functions. Attackers who have already gained authentication credentials can leverage this weakness to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative access, effectively compromising the entire network device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted GET requests directed at the /goform/* URI endpoints or through manipulation of the ExportSettings function. These endpoints lack proper authorization checks and input sanitization, allowing maliciously constructed parameters to bypass normal access controls. The flaw likely stems from insufficient validation of user inputs and inadequate privilege verification before executing sensitive administrative operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and specifically relates to CWE-798 which covers the use of hard-coded credentials or improper access control validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected router. Once escalated, attackers can modify network configurations, change administrator passwords, disable security features, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the local network. The router's role as a network gateway makes this particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with unrestricted access to internal network resources and potentially serve as a platform for lateral movement attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1566 for credential harvesting and initial access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from Linksys to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise and monitor for unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized configuration changes. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing strong access controls with multi-factor authentication, and conducting regular security assessments of network devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in network device firmware, highlighting the need for security-by-design principles in embedded systems development. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous requests to management interfaces and establish baseline network behavior for detecting potential exploitation attempts.