Source: cve@mitre.org
goform/login on the HOT HOTBOX router with software 2.1.11 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (device crash) via crafted HTTP POST data.
Remote attackers can crash the HOT HOTBOX router (software 2.1.11) by sending specially crafted HTTP POST data to the goform/login endpoint, leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. This vulnerability allows for complete disruption of network services, potentially impacting critical infrastructure or user access. Successful exploitation requires no authentication, making it a significant security risk.
Step 1: Target Identification: Identify a HOT HOTBOX router with software version 2.1.11 accessible via the network.
Step 2: Payload Crafting: Construct a malicious HTTP POST request to the goform/login endpoint. The POST data will be crafted to exploit the vulnerability, likely by providing an excessively long string or a specific sequence of characters.
Step 3: Request Delivery: Send the crafted HTTP POST request to the router's goform/login URL.
Step 4: Vulnerability Trigger: The router's web server processes the malicious POST data.
Step 5: Crash/DoS: The router's firmware encounters the vulnerability, leading to a crash and reboot, resulting in a denial-of-service condition.
The vulnerability lies within the goform/login handler of the HOT HOTBOX router's web interface. The root cause is likely a buffer overflow or an unhandled exception triggered by the malformed HTTP POST data. The router's firmware probably fails to properly validate the size or format of the input data, leading to a memory corruption event. This corruption could overwrite critical data structures, causing the router's operating system to crash and reboot, resulting in a DoS. The specific function or logic flaw is likely related to how the router parses and processes the POST data, potentially in the authentication or session management routines. The lack of input validation is the primary contributing factor.
Due to the age of the vulnerability and the target device's likely limited deployment, it is unlikely to be targeted by sophisticated APTs. However, any threat actor seeking to disrupt network availability could exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Monitor HTTP traffic for POST requests to the goform/login endpoint with unusually large or malformed payloads.
Analyze router logs for unexpected reboots or service disruptions.
Implement network intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures that detect malicious HTTP POST requests targeting this vulnerability.
Monitor for unusual network behavior, such as a sudden drop in network connectivity from the affected router.
Upgrade the HOT HOTBOX router's firmware to a patched version (if available). Since the device is old, this may not be possible.
If firmware updates are unavailable, isolate the router from the public internet by placing it behind a firewall.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of a successful exploit.
Disable or restrict access to the web interface if it is not required.
Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity, including attempts to access the goform/login endpoint.
Consider replacing the vulnerable router with a more secure device.