Source: cret@cert.org
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability on Amped Wireless R10000 devices with firmware 2.5.2.11 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users.
Amped Wireless R10000 devices running firmware 2.5.2.11 are vulnerable to a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack. This allows attackers to remotely hijack the authentication of legitimate users, potentially leading to complete device compromise and network access. Successful exploitation grants attackers unauthorized control over the device's configuration and network settings.
Step 1: Victim Logged In: The victim, an administrator of the Amped Wireless R10000 router, is logged into the router's web interface.
Step 2: Attacker Crafting: The attacker crafts a malicious web page or email containing a hidden HTML form or JavaScript code.
Step 3: Payload Delivery: The attacker lures the victim to visit the malicious web page or open the malicious email. This could be through phishing, social engineering, or other means.
Step 4: Malicious Request: The malicious web page or email automatically submits a forged HTTP request to the router's web interface. This request is crafted to change a setting on the router (e.g., the administrator password).
Step 5: Request Execution: Because the router lacks CSRF protection, it processes the forged request as if it originated from the legitimate user. The router executes the command specified in the request.
Step 6: Device Compromise: The attacker successfully changes the router's configuration, potentially gaining control of the device and the network.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the web interface of the Amped Wireless R10000 router. Specifically, the firmware fails to validate the origin of HTTP requests, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that are executed by the victim's browser. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate the router's settings, such as changing the administrator password, DNS settings, or enabling remote access, without the user's explicit consent. The root cause is the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or other origin validation techniques in the router's web application logic. This allows an attacker to create a malicious webpage or email that, when visited or opened by a logged-in administrator, will trigger the router to execute the attacker's commands.
There is no specific APT group or malware family definitively linked to the exploitation of this specific CVE. However, the nature of the vulnerability makes it attractive to various threat actors seeking to gain network access. This CVE is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP POST requests to the router's web interface, especially those originating from unexpected sources or containing suspicious parameters.
Analyze router logs for unauthorized configuration changes, such as password resets, DNS modifications, or remote access enablement.
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out suspicious HTTP requests.
Use network intrusion detection systems (IDS) to identify malicious activity based on known attack patterns.
Monitor for changes in the router's configuration that are not initiated by the administrator.
Upgrade the router's firmware to a version that addresses the CSRF vulnerability. If no patch is available, consider replacing the device.
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to filter out suspicious HTTP requests.
Disable remote access to the router's web interface if not required.
Change the default administrator password to a strong, unique password.
Educate users about the dangers of phishing and social engineering attacks.
Regularly audit the router's configuration for unauthorized changes.
Consider segmenting the network to limit the impact of a compromised router.