CVE-2020-8861 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in D-Link DAP-1330 1.10B01 BETA Wi-Fi range extenders allows network-adjacent attackers to bypass authentication, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-8861

This CVE involves a flaw in the handling of HNAP login requests on D-Link DAP-1330 1.10B01 BETA devices.

What is CVE-2020-8861?

This vulnerability enables attackers to bypass authentication on affected D-Link installations, exploiting a flaw in handling HNAP login requests.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8861

CVSS Base Score: 8.8 (High Severity)
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact: High
Attackers can execute arbitrary code on the router without requiring user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8861

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allows network-adjacent attackers to bypass authentication on D-Link DAP-1330 1.10B01 BETA devices, exploiting the mishandling of HNAP login requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: D-Link DAP-1330
Affected Version: 1.10B01 BETA

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the lack of proper handling of cookies to execute arbitrary code on the router.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8861 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by D-Link promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.
Restrict network access to the affected devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all D-Link DAP-1330 devices are updated with the latest firmware and security patches to address this vulnerability.