CVE-2024-42954 in FH1201
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2024
Tenda FH1201 v1.2.0.14 (408) was discovered to contain a stack overflow via the page parameter in the fromwebExcptypemanFilter function. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via a crafted POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42954 affects the Tenda FH1201 router firmware version 1.2.0.14 (build 408) and represents a critical stack overflow condition within the web interface handling logic. This flaw exists in the fromwebExcptypemanFilter function which processes incoming HTTP requests through the page parameter, creating an exploitable buffer overflow scenario that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the router's web management interface. When a crafted POST request is submitted containing an overly long page parameter value, the application fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it to a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and leading to system instability. The vulnerability manifests specifically during the processing of exception management filter requests, indicating the flaw occurs in the router's error handling or administrative interface components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network availability and system integrity as it enables remote attackers to execute a Denial of Service attack without requiring authentication or privileged access. The crafted POST request can be delivered through standard web browser interactions or automated tools, making exploitation relatively straightforward and accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. Successful exploitation results in complete service disruption of the affected router, rendering network management and configuration inaccessible until manual intervention or reboot restores functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental software security flaw. This classification indicates the root cause involves improper handling of fixed-length buffers in stack memory, a well-documented pattern that has historically led to numerous security incidents across networking equipment. The attack vector maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, specifically targeting the router as a critical infrastructure component. Organizations should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Tenda to address this vulnerability, as the lack of authentication requirements and remote exploitability make it particularly dangerous in production environments.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing network segmentation to isolate affected devices, deploying web application firewalls to filter suspicious POST requests, and establishing monitoring for unusual traffic patterns targeting the router's management interface. Additionally, network administrators should consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when not actively required, and maintain comprehensive backup configurations to facilitate rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in embedded systems and highlights the need for regular security assessments of network infrastructure components to identify and remediate similar flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.