A significant security vulnerability has been identified in the Wi-Fi Test Suite that may allow unauthorized local attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This flaw, designated CVE-2024-41992, primarily affects routers manufactured by Arcadyan FMIMG51AX000J, as reported by the CERT Coordination Center (CERT/CC).
According to CERT/CC, the exploitability of this vulnerability arises from the ability to send specially crafted packets to the Wi-Fi Test Suite, which would enable an unauthenticated local attacker to run arbitrary commands with root privileges on affected devices. The advisory detailing this flaw was released on Wednesday, underscoring the potential risks posed to networks leveraging these routers.
The Wi-Fi Test Suite is an integrated platform developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, designed to automate testing for Wi-Fi components and devices. While some open-source elements of this toolkit are accessible to the public, full access is restricted to Wi-Fi Alliance members. The presence of the vulnerable code in commercial routers raises concerns, particularly since the suite is not designated for operational environments.
The vulnerability was initially revealed by Secure Disclosure in August 2024, which characterized it as a command injection flaw that could empower threat actors to execute commands with root privileges. The Wi-Fi Alliance was informed of the issue in April 2024, thus establishing a timeline for potential exploitation.
Notably, an independent researcher, identified by the pseudonym “fj016,” is credited with discovering and reporting this vulnerability. The researcher has also made a proof-of-concept exploit available, which demonstrates the feasibility of the attack.
CERT/CC emphasizes that successful exploitation of this vulnerability grants attackers full administrative control of the affected device. This access facilitates a range of malicious activities, including modifying system settings, disrupting critical network services, and potentially resetting devices. Such actions can lead to service interruptions, network data compromise, and widespread impact on users reliant on the affected network.
In light of the absence of a patch from the manufacturer, it is recommended that affected vendors either remove the Wi-Fi Test Suite from their production devices or update it to version 9.0 or later to minimize the risk of exploitation. As businesses look to safeguard their network security, awareness and proactive measures are essential in mitigating risks associated with such vulnerabilities.
The Hacker News has reached out to the Wi-Fi Alliance for further clarification and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
