CVE-2024-23486 in WSR-2533DHP
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2024
Plaintext storage of a password issue exists in BUFFALO wireless LAN routers, which may allow a network-adjacent unauthenticated attacker with access to the product's login page may obtain configured credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23486 represents a critical security flaw in BUFFALO wireless LAN routers that exposes plaintext password storage practices. This issue affects the authentication mechanisms of these networking devices and creates a significant risk for unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker gains network-adjacent access to the router's login interface, enabling them to retrieve stored credentials in their original, unencrypted form. Such a flaw directly violates fundamental security principles regarding credential protection and demonstrates poor implementation of authentication security measures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the router's failure to properly encrypt or hash passwords during storage within the device's configuration memory. When administrators configure authentication credentials for router access, the system stores these passwords in plaintext format rather than implementing cryptographic protection mechanisms. This design flaw allows any attacker with access to the login page interface to extract credentials without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and specifically impacts the router's web-based management interface where authentication credentials are processed and stored.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for network security and integrity. An attacker positioned within the same network segment as the affected router can directly access the login page and extract stored credentials, potentially gaining full administrative control over the device. This compromise enables attackers to modify router configurations, redirect traffic, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or establish persistent access points within the network. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, especially in enterprise environments where multiple routers may be vulnerable to similar flaws.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of data. This weakness specifically relates to the storage of sensitive data in an unencrypted format, making it directly accessible to unauthorized parties. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, particularly T1566 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts. The attack surface is relatively narrow but impactful, requiring only network adjacency and access to the login interface to exploit successfully. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from BUFFALO to address the plaintext storage issue. Network administrators should implement strict access controls limiting physical and network access to router management interfaces. Additional protective measures include enabling encrypted management protocols such as HTTPS and SSH, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and regularly auditing router configurations for unauthorized changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential storage practices and underscores the necessity of following security best practices in network device implementation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other network infrastructure components and establish robust security monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.