CVE-2017-16957 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

TP-Link devices TL-WVR, TL-WAR, TL-ER, and TL-R are vulnerable to a security issue allowing authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands remotely.

Understanding CVE-2017-16957

What is CVE-2017-16957?

The vulnerability in TP-Link devices enables authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands remotely due to shell metacharacters in the iface field of an admin/diagnostic command.

The Impact of CVE-2017-16957

This vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users to execute unauthorized commands on the affected devices, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-16957

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the presence of shell metacharacters in the iface field of an admin/diagnostic command sent to cgi-bin/luci, specifically in the zone_get_effect_devices function within uhttpd.

Affected Systems and Versions

TP-Link TL-WVR
TP-Link TL-WAR
TP-Link TL-ER
TP-Link TL-R

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows authenticated users to insert shell metacharacters in the iface field of a specific command, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands remotely.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable remote access if not required
Implement strong, unique passwords for device access
Regularly monitor device logs for suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep devices up to date with the latest firmware
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing

Patching and Updates

Ensure that TP-Link devices TL-WVR, TL-WAR, TL-ER, and TL-R are updated with the latest firmware patches to address this vulnerability.