CVE-2024-32320 in AC500
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
Tenda AC500 V2.0.1.9(1307) firmware has a stack overflow vulnerability via the timeZone parameter in the formSetTimeZone function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2025
The CVE-2024-32320 vulnerability represents a critical stack overflow flaw discovered in the Tenda AC500 V2.0.1.9(1307) wireless router firmware, exposing devices to potential remote exploitation. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the formSetTimeZone function, which processes the timeZone parameter submitted through web forms. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and buffer management within the firmware's web interface handling code, creating a condition where maliciously crafted timezone data can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can lead to arbitrary code execution, system compromise, or complete device takeover when exploited by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The affected device operates on embedded firmware that processes user inputs through HTTP form submissions, specifically targeting the timezone configuration parameter. When an attacker submits a malformed timezone value exceeding the allocated buffer size, the excessive data overflows into adjacent stack memory, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing for privilege escalation. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in network infrastructure devices as it can be exploited without authentication, leveraging the web interface's accessibility.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, presenting significant risks to network security and device integrity. Remote exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the router's administrative interface, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The vulnerability affects all devices running the specified firmware version, creating a widespread exposure across affected Tenda AC500 installations. Attackers could leverage this flaw to redirect traffic, modify network configurations, establish persistent backdoors, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where routers are directly exposed to untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-32320 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Tenda, as the vendor has likely released patches addressing this specific stack overflow condition. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of affected devices to external threats, while also monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and secure coding practices in embedded systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1210 for exploitation through vulnerable network services. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerable parameters. Additionally, regular firmware auditing and security assessments of network infrastructure devices can help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.