CVE-2022-22054 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A path traversal vulnerability has been discovered in ASUS RT-AX56U, potentially allowing unauthorized access to restricted system paths and unauthorized downloads.

Understanding CVE-2022-22054

This CVE record describes a security issue in the login function of ASUS RT-AX56U, which arises due to insufficient filtering of special characters in URL parameters.

What is CVE-2022-22054?

The CVE-2022-22054 vulnerability in ASUS RT-AX56U enables an unauthenticated attacker on the local network to traverse system paths improperly, making it possible to download arbitrary files without proper authorization.

The Impact of CVE-2022-22054

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 6.5. It possesses a high confidentiality impact, allowing attackers to access sensitive information without requiring any special privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-22054

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, specifically targeting the improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the login function of ASUS RT-AX56U arises from the lack of proper validation and filtering of special characters in URL parameters, leading to a path traversal risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

The specific affected product is the ASUS RT-AX56U with version 3.0.0.4.386.44266.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to be within the local network and capable of sending crafted requests with malicious payloads to the target device.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-22054, immediate actions and long-term security practices are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches and updates provided by ASUS to address the vulnerability promptly.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit unauthorized access to sensitive areas.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit network traffic for any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.
Educate users about safe browsing practices and the importance of secure network configurations.

Patching and Updates

Keep the firmware of the affected ASUS RT-AX56U devices up-to-date by installing patches released by the vendor to ensure protection against known security flaws.