CVE-2024-0574: Critical Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Totolink LR1200GB

Overview

The cybersecurity community has recently identified a critical vulnerability in the Totolink LR1200GB 9.1.0u.6619_B20230130, a widely used router. The vulnerability, catalogued as CVE-2024-0574, exposes millions of users to potential system compromise or data leakage, marking a significant risk for individual users and organizations alike. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as its exploitation does not require complex privileges or user interaction, and the exploit has already been disclosed to the public.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-0574
Severity: Critical, CVSS score of 8.8
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Totolink LR1200GB | 9.1.0u.6619_B20230130

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability resides in the function setParentalRules of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi, which is manipulated by using the argument sTime. With the correct manipulation, this can lead to a stack-based buffer overflow, causing the system to crash or execute arbitrary code. The exploit can be launched remotely, without requiring any user interaction or special privileges.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of an HTTP request that might exploit this vulnerability:

POST /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/json
{ "sTime": "OVERFLOW DATA HERE" }

In this example, the `sTime` argument is overloaded with data, causing a buffer overflow in the targeted system.

Recommended Mitigation

Given the critical nature of this vulnerability, it is strongly recommended to apply vendor patches as soon as they become available. In the event that patches are not yet available, it is advisable to use Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) as temporary mitigation measures. However, these should not be seen as long-term solutions, and users should still apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. Additionally, users are advised to consistently monitor their systems for any suspicious activities.