CVE-2019-18371 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was found in Xiaomi Mi WiFi R3G devices prior to version 2.28.23-stable, allowing unauthorized access to read any files on the device through a misconfigured NGINX alias.

Understanding CVE-2019-18371

This CVE identifies a directory traversal vulnerability in Xiaomi Mi WiFi R3G devices that can lead to unauthorized file access.

What is CVE-2019-18371?

This vulnerability in Xiaomi Mi WiFi R3G devices allows attackers to read any files on the device by exploiting a misconfigured NGINX alias.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18371

The vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive files, potentially leading to a bypass of the authentication system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18371

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue allows attackers to read arbitrary files on the device through a misconfigured NGINX alias, specifically by accessing the api-third-party/download/extdisks../etc/config/account path.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: Xiaomi Mi WiFi R3G devices
Vulnerable Versions: Prior to version 2.28.23-stable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the misconfigured NGINX alias to access the api-third-party/download/extdisks../etc/config/account path, enabling unauthorized file read access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-18371 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Xiaomi Mi WiFi R3G devices to version 2.28.23-stable or newer.
Monitor for any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and secure NGINX configurations.
Implement access controls to restrict file read permissions.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.