CVE-2024-39963 in AX3000
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2024
AX3000 Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Router AX9 V22.03.01.46 and AX3000 Dual-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Router AX12 V1.0 V22.03.01.46 were discovered to contain an authenticated remote command execution (RCE) vulnerability via the macFilterType parameter at /goform/setMacFilterCfg.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-39963 affects specific models of AX3000 dual-band gigabit Wi-Fi 6 routers including the AX9 V22.03.01.46 and AX12 V1.0 V22.03.01.46 variants. This represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated remote command execution through a carefully crafted parameter within the router's web interface configuration. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the macFilterType parameter located at the /goform/setMacFilterCfg endpoint, which serves as an entry point for manipulating the router's access control settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the router's web application framework. When an authenticated user submits a malicious payload through the macFilterType parameter, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it within the context of system commands. This primitive allows attackers who have gained valid credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection flaws that enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security and device integrity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the affected router, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that an attacker must first obtain valid user credentials, but this access level provides sufficient privileges to execute system commands. This type of vulnerability can facilitate various attack vectors including but not limited to network reconnaissance, data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, and the establishment of persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect the entire network ecosystem that relies on the compromised router for connectivity and security enforcement.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the use of web shell or command execution capabilities. Network defenders should recognize this as a potential indicator of compromise when monitoring for unusual command execution patterns on network devices. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for organizations relying on consumer-grade networking equipment for critical infrastructure protection, as these devices often lack robust security hardening and regular update mechanisms.
Effective mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the command injection flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems from potentially compromised network devices, while also establishing robust access control measures including strong authentication mechanisms and regular credential rotation. Network monitoring should include detection of unusual traffic patterns or command execution attempts targeting router management interfaces. Additionally, implementing network access controls at the firewall level to restrict access to router management interfaces from trusted networks only can provide additional layers of defense. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other network infrastructure components, while also ensuring that all network devices receive timely security updates and patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.