CVE-2024-7828 in DNS-120
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2024
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A vulnerability classified as critical was found in D-Link DNS-120, DNR-202L, DNS-315L, DNS-320, DNS-320L, DNS-320LW, DNS-321, DNR-322L, DNS-323, DNS-325, DNS-326, DNS-327L, DNR-326, DNS-340L, DNS-343, DNS-345, DNS-726-4, DNS-1100-4, DNS-1200-05 and DNS-1550-04 up to 20240814. This vulnerability affects the function cgi_set_cover of the file /cgi-bin/photocenter_mgr.cgi. The manipulation of the argument album_name leads to buffer overflow. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer. NOTE: Vendor was contacted early and confirmed that the product is end-of-life. It should be retired and replaced.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
This critical vulnerability exists in multiple D-Link network video recorder and storage devices including DNS-120, DNR-202L, DNS-315L, and various other models up to firmware version 20240814. The flaw resides in the cgi_set_cover function within the /cgi-bin/photocenter_mgr.cgi file, specifically in how it handles the album_name parameter. This represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when user-supplied input exceeds the allocated memory space for the album_name variable. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the affected devices.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability follows the CWE-121 CWE-122 and CWE-787 classification patterns, where insufficient bounds checking allows arbitrary data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. When an attacker crafts a maliciously formatted album_name argument, the system fails to validate the input length against the buffer capacity, resulting in memory corruption that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack surface is broad as it affects numerous D-Link models across different product lines, suggesting a widespread implementation flaw in the firmware's input validation mechanisms. This type of vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1203 (Exploitation for Execution) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation).
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption, as it provides potential attackers with complete system compromise capabilities. Remote exploitation could enable unauthorized access to stored video footage, network configuration data, and potentially allow attackers to install malicious firmware or establish persistent backdoors. Given that these devices typically operate in network environments with sensitive surveillance footage and may be connected to internal networks, the compromise of such devices could lead to significant privacy violations and network infiltration. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively exploitable means that threat actors are likely already targeting these devices, particularly in environments where legacy equipment remains operational.
Organizations should immediately cease using these vulnerable D-Link devices as they are no longer supported by the vendor and have reached end-of-life status. The recommended mitigation strategy involves complete device retirement and replacement with supported models that include proper input validation and memory protection mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate any remaining vulnerable devices until physical removal occurs. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual traffic patterns or attempts to access the affected cgi-bin endpoints. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify any other unsupported network equipment that may be similarly vulnerable to unpatched firmware flaws, as this represents a broader pattern of legacy device security issues that require immediate remediation through replacement rather than patching.