CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-50919NVD status: Modified

Gl-ax1800 Firmware: Improper Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-50919 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Gl-ax1800 Firmware from GL.iNet, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Gl-ax1800 Firmware versions: 4.3.7; 4.4.6. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 47.8% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 1.13% of all scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of Gl-ax1800 Firmware you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Gl-inetGl-ax1800 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-axt1800 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-mt3000 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-mt2500 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-mt6000 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-mt1300 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-mt300n-v2 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-ar750s Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-ar750 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-ar300m Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-b1300 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated
Gl-inetGl-a1300 Firmware4.3.7; 4.4.6Not stated

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalCISA (ADP)

Official description

An issue was discovered on GL.iNet devices before version 4.5.0. There is an NGINX authentication bypass via Lua string pattern matching. This affects A1300 4.4.6, AX1800 4.4.6, AXT1800 4.4.6, MT3000 4.4.6, MT2500 4.4.6, MT6000 4.5.0, MT1300 4.3.7, MT300N-V2 4.3.7, AR750S 4.3.7, AR750 4.3.7, AR300M 4.3.7, and B1300 4.3.7.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication

When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Gl-ax1800 Firmware

All Gl-ax1800 Firmware vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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