CVE-2024-45697 in DIR-X4860 A1
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2024
Certain models of D-Link wireless routers have a hidden functionality where the telnet service is enabled when the WAN port is plugged in. Unauthorized remote attackers can log in and execute OS commands using hard-coded credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2024
This vulnerability affects specific D-Link wireless router models where a latent telnet service activation occurs upon physical connection of the WAN port. The flaw represents a critical security oversight that violates fundamental principles of secure system design and network segmentation. The implementation of hardcoded credentials for remote access creates an inherent backdoor that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms and provides persistent unauthorized access to the device's operating system. This issue demonstrates a severe failure in the principle of least privilege and secure default configuration practices that are essential for network device security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages a physical trigger mechanism combined with hardcoded authentication credentials, creating a sophisticated attack vector that requires minimal technical expertise to exploit. The telnet service operates without proper authentication controls, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands with elevated privileges. This configuration violates security standards such as those outlined in CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and CWE-255, which covers issues related to authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to network infrastructure security, particularly in enterprise and home network environments where D-Link routers are deployed. The combination of automatic service activation upon physical connection and hardcoded credentials creates a persistent threat that can be exploited by attackers without requiring network access or specialized tools. The attack surface is expanded due to the physical nature of the trigger, potentially allowing attackers with physical access to the devices to gain unauthorized control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072, which addresses software deployment methods, and T1105, covering remote service execution, while also demonstrating characteristics of T1210, involving exploitation of remote services through physical access.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security exposure and the underlying design flaw. Device administrators should disable the telnet service immediately and replace hardcoded credentials with strong, unique authentication mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit physical access to network devices, while regular security audits should verify that services are properly configured according to security best practices. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized telnet connections and establish incident response procedures for dealing with potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-44, which provides guidelines for securing network devices, and ISO/IEC 27001, which addresses information security management systems.