CVE-2024-48271 in DSL6740C
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2024
D-Link DSL6740C v6.TR069.20211230 was discovered to use insecure default credentials for Administrator access, possibly allowing attackers to bypass authentication and escalate privileges on the device via a bruteforce attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-48271 affects the D-Link DSL6740C router model running firmware version v6.TR069.20211230. This device is part of the broader D-Link consumer and small office networking product line that provides broadband internet connectivity through DSL technology. The specific firmware version indicates it was released in December 2021 and utilizes TR069 protocol for remote management and configuration. This particular model serves as a gateway device for residential and small business users, making it a critical component in home network security infrastructure. The device operates with a web-based management interface that allows users to configure network settings, firewall rules, and other administrative functions through standard HTTP protocols.
The technical flaw stems from the implementation of insecure default credentials within the device's authentication mechanism. This vulnerability represents a classic case of weak authentication security where the device ships with predetermined username and password combinations that remain unchanged unless explicitly modified by the user. The default credentials are widely known within the security community and can be easily obtained through public repositories, vendor documentation, or security research databases. This flaw directly violates security best practices and industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 security controls. The vulnerability maps to CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and CWE-312, which covers the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission. The presence of these default credentials creates an immediate and exploitable attack vector that bypasses all authentication mechanisms and provides full administrative access to the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and potentially devastating for affected users. Attackers can leverage brute force attacks or simply use the known default credentials to gain unauthorized administrative access to the router. Once compromised, the attacker gains complete control over the network gateway, enabling them to modify firewall rules, redirect traffic, install malicious firmware, or establish persistent backdoors. This access can be used to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, monitor network traffic, or use the compromised device as a launch point for further attacks against other devices on the local network. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but also creates potential risks for organizations that may have deployed these devices in their networks without proper security hardening. The attack surface extends beyond simple credential guessing to include potential lateral movement within the network and the ability to compromise other connected devices that trust the router's network configuration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should be implemented immediately upon discovery of affected devices. The primary and most effective mitigation is to change the default administrator credentials to strong, unique passwords that are not easily guessable or obtainable through public sources. Network administrators should enforce password complexity requirements and implement regular credential rotation policies. The device should be configured to disable remote administrative access where possible, and local access should be restricted to trusted users only. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit communication between the router and other network segments. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Default Accounts) and T1566.002 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachments) as attackers may use default credentials to establish persistence and potentially use the device for further reconnaissance. Regular firmware updates should be implemented, though in this case, the vendor may need to release patches specifically addressing the hardcoded credential issue, as the problem is embedded in the device's factory configuration rather than a software bug that can be easily corrected through updates.