CVE-2024-9644 in F3x36
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2025
The Four-Faith F3x36 router using firmware v2.0.0 is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability in the administrative web server. Authentication is not enforced on some administrative functionality when using the "bapply.cgi" endpoint instead of the normal "apply.cgi" endpoint. A remote and unauthenticated can use this vulnerability to modify settings or chain with existing authenticated vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
The Four-Faith F3x36 router represents a significant security concern due to a critical authentication bypass vulnerability present in firmware version 2.0.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative web server component of the device, creating a dangerous exposure that undermines the fundamental security posture of the network infrastructure. The flaw manifests through the improper handling of administrative endpoints, where the system fails to enforce proper authentication controls for certain privileged functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the router's web server configuration where the "bapply.cgi" endpoint operates without requiring authentication credentials, while the standard "apply.cgi" endpoint properly enforces administrative access controls. This inconsistency creates a backdoor mechanism that allows any remote attacker to exploit administrative functionality without prior authentication. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-287 category of Improper Authentication, specifically addressing weak authentication mechanisms that permit unauthorized access to privileged functions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to modify critical router settings including network configurations, firewall rules, DNS settings, and administrative credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the network environment. A remote unauthenticated attacker can chain this vulnerability with existing authenticated exploits to achieve complete network compromise. This chaining capability represents a particularly dangerous aspect as it allows attackers to escalate privileges from initial reconnaissance to full administrative control without requiring any prior credentials or access. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate network traffic, redirect connections, modify security policies, and potentially establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from Four-Faith to address the authentication bypass mechanism. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative endpoints and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns targeting the affected CGI endpoints. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can use the bypass to establish persistent access and potentially leverage the compromised device for further network infiltration. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to block access to suspicious CGI endpoints and establish network monitoring protocols that can detect unauthorized administrative function calls. Regular security audits of network device configurations should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities across the enterprise infrastructure, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security configuration issues that may affect other network components.