External risk intelligence

D-Link DIR-600 Router Administrator Account Compromise

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2014-100005

Certain D-Link DIR-600 routers have vulnerabilities allowing remote attackers to alter configurations via cross-site request forgery by hijacking administrator sessions. This could lead to unauthorized account creation or remote management enablement, increasing business risk.

4Halo Surface Signal

Cross-site Request Forgery

Dlink Dir 600 Firmware

2.16ww and earlier

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2014-100005

This vulnerability affects a consumer router, a device class commonly deployed as an internet-facing gateway. While CSRF requires a user to be authenticated, the management interface of such edge devices is frequently exposed or reachable via the internet, making it a likely target for remote configuration changes.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

Certain D-Link DIR-600 routers contain vulnerabilities that allow remote attackers to modify router configurations by exploiting cross-site request forgery. These flaws enable an attacker to potentially hijack administrator sessions to create new administrator accounts, enable remote management, or activate new configuration settings. The impact could include unauthorized changes to network settings and potential loss of control over the device.

  • Vulnerable D-Link DIR-600 routers
  • Cross-site request forgery weakness
  • Unauthorized configuration changes

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

This vulnerability impacts organizations using specific D-Link DIR-600 router firmware versions. Attackers can exploit this by tricking an authenticated administrator into performing actions. This could lead to unauthorized account creation, remote management activation, or configuration changes.

  • Exposure: Router administrator interface accessible.
  • Attacker access: Crafted web requests.
  • Trigger: Administrator session hijacked.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability affects D-Link DIR-600 routers, allowing attackers to remotely alter device configurations by exploiting cross-site request forgery. These routers are considered end-of-life and should be retired and replaced. The attack requires an authenticated administrator session to hijack and execute malicious commands.

  • Low to moderate attacker skill level.
  • Requires authenticated administrator access.
  • High business risk; urgent replacement needed.

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The identified vulnerabilities in D-Link DIR-600 routers can allow remote attackers to gain administrative control by exploiting cross-site request forgery flaws. These vulnerabilities could enable attackers to create new administrator accounts, enable remote management, or alter configuration settings. Given the nature of these devices, they are often internet-facing, increasing the potential risk to an organization's network.

  • Find affected D-Link DIR-600 routers.
  • Retire and replace vulnerable hardware.
  • Monitor network for related activity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D-Link DIR-600 router and what is it used for?

The D-Link DIR-600 is a router, a device that directs network traffic. It's commonly used in homes and small offices to connect multiple devices to the internet and to each other, creating a local network.

How does CVE-2014-100005 enable an attacker to affect the router?

CVE-2014-100005 is a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability. This type of weakness allows an attacker to trick a logged-in administrator into unknowingly executing commands, potentially enabling them to create new admin accounts or change router settings.

What are the preconditions for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability?

An attacker needs an authenticated administrator session to be active on the router. The vulnerability is not triggered if the administrator is not logged in or if the router's management interface is not accessible.

Who should care about this internal vulnerability?

Anyone using specific D-Link DIR-600 routers should be concerned. As this router is often used as a gateway, it's frequently internet-facing, making it a potential target for attackers seeking to alter configurations.

What is the first step for responding to this threat?

The primary recommendation is to identify any affected D-Link DIR-600 routers and immediately retire and replace them. These devices are considered end-of-life and continuing to use them poses a significant risk.

References