CVE-2024-4166 in 4G300
Summary
by MITRE • 04/25/2024
A vulnerability has been found in Tenda 4G300 1.01.42 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function sub_41E858. The manipulation of the argument GO/page leads to stack-based buffer overflow. The attack can be launched remotely. The identifier VDB-261985 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4166 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in Tenda 4G300 1.01.42 devices, specifically within the sub_41E858 function. This flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation and memory management within the router's web interface handling mechanism. The vulnerability manifests when processing the GO/page argument, indicating that the device fails to properly validate the length of user-supplied input before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a critical security weakness in software development practices. The attack vector is remote, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the device, significantly expanding the potential threat surface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the GO/page parameter, which suggests that the web interface lacks proper bounds checking for user input. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload with an oversized GO/page argument, the program attempts to copy this data into a stack buffer that is insufficiently sized to accommodate the input. This results in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent stack variables, potentially including return addresses and function pointers. The stack-based nature of this overflow means that attackers can potentially redirect execution flow to arbitrary code locations within the device's memory space, providing a pathway for remote code execution. The vulnerability's classification as critical aligns with the potential for complete system compromise, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK framework's technique T1210 for exploiting weaknesses in remote services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass full system compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the router's administrative interface, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, install malicious firmware, or establish persistent backdoors. The remote exploit capability means that threat actors can target these devices from anywhere on the internet, making them particularly attractive targets for large-scale attacks. Organizations relying on Tenda 4G300 devices for network infrastructure may find their entire network compromised if this vulnerability is exploited, as routers often serve as central points of control and access within network environments. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts further compounds the risk, as users have no official patch or mitigation guidance available.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate action to address the root cause. The most effective approach involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the affected sub_41E858 function, ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before processing. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the router's web interface, particularly when the device is exposed to untrusted networks. Administrators should consider disabling unnecessary web interface access and implementing additional authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's nature suggests that firmware updates from the vendor would be essential, though the lack of vendor response necessitates alternative approaches. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough network assessments to identify all affected devices and ensure that proper access controls are in place to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.