Summary
CVE-2023-44416 (CVSS Score: 6.8) is just one of many recent zero days from D-Link, a Taiwanese networking equipment corporation. This specific flaw, reported by Zero Day Initiative, affects the command line interface (CLI) service that listens on TCP port 23 within the DAP-2622 Access Point product. There is a lack of proper validation of a user-supplied string before executing a system call. A network-adjacent attacker can use the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in root context on affected installations of D-Link DAP-2622 without requiring authentication.
Impact Assessment
CVE-2023-44416 poses a high security risk to any individual or organization using the DAP-2622 Access Point. The ability for the attacker to execute code with root privileges, which is the highest level of privilege, can be massively impactful. This allows the attacker to do practically anything they want––not only to this network device but also potentially to anything connected to it within the network. This is the goal of any attacker, to escalate their privilege to this root level because the methods of attack are practically unlimited.
What it means for you
This vulnerability allows the attacker to potentially obtain root privileges with low attack complexity and no user interaction on a critical piece of network infrastructure. If this vulnerability is exploited, it could be devastating to the entire network connected to this device. Exploitation could result in denial of service, compromised device(s), installation of malware, data exfiltration, and a myriad of other types of exploits and consequences.
Remediation
A few important silver linings allow this vulnerability to be mitigated:
- The attack vector is network-adjacent and requires high privileges. As such, it requires the attack to be conducted from the same physical or logical network. A VLAN with proper network segmentation won’t prevent this attack but will assist in limiting the extent to which devices can be affected. The value of a well-designed network infrastructure is paramount here.
- No firmware patch is available as of 10/5/2023. If your organization uses the DAP-2622, keep an eye out for vendor firmware updates from D-Link as a patch is expected from them soon.
- Network monitoring is essential for preventing this vulnerability from being exploited. Ensuring that unusual traffic in the network is being investigated and knowing who and what is connected to your network at all times is critical for not only this vulnerability but network security in general.
Business Implications
Failure to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability could be disastrous, depending on what is network-adjacent to this device. Data could be exfiltrated, malware installed, or a denial of service attack perpetrated. The monetary losses are difficult to estimate, as they would depend on what is connected to the compromised device and how the organization responds during a disaster recovery scenario.
Access Point Technology Recommends
- Update: Keep an eye out for any firmware updates for the affected device.
- Network Segmentation: Ensure proper network segmentation is in place to limit the impact of any network related vulnerability exploitation.
- Monitor: Monitor your organization’s network for suspicious activity and investigate. Know who and what is connected to the network at all times.
Following these recommendations will assist in remediation and help mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-44416. Enhancing network security posture, keeping firmware up-to-date, and monitoring activity on the network are the keys for success.
Associated Bulletins
https://www.dlink.com/en/products/dap-2622-nuclias-connect-ac1200-wave-2-wall-plate-access-point
https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1514/
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln-metrics/cvss/v3-calculator?calculator&version=3.0&vector=(AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
https://www.first.org/cvss/specification-document
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