CVE-2023-3331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-3331 involves an "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory" vulnerability in multiple NEC Corporation Aterm products, allowing an attacker to delete specific files within the affected products. The vulnerability was discovered externally and was reported by Mr. Taizoh Tsukamoto in Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions, Inc. The CVE was published on June 28, 2023, and affects various Aterm models.

Understanding CVE-2023-3331

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-3331, exploring the vulnerability's impact and technical aspects to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.

What is CVE-2023-3331?

The CVE-2023-3331 vulnerability pertains to an "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory" in NEC Corporation's Aterm product line. This vulnerability allows attackers to delete specific files within the affected products.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3331

The vulnerability poses a significant security risk as it enables unauthorized users to delete crucial files within the NEC Corporation Aterm products. This could lead to data loss, system instability, or potential exploitation of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3331

This section dives into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-3331, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory in NEC Corporation Aterm models, allowing attackers to delete specific files within the products.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE-2023-3331 vulnerability affects multiple NEC Corporation Aterm products, including Aterm WG2600HP2, WG2600HP, WG2200HP, WG1800HP2, WG1800HP, WG1400HP, WG600HP, WG300HP, WF300HP, WR9500N, WR9300N, WR8750N, WR8700N, WR8600N, WR8370N, WR8175N, and WR8170N across all versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the improper pathname limitation to navigate to restricted directories and delete specific files within the NEC Corporation Aterm products.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3331 and prevent potential exploitation, immediate steps must be taken along with the implementation of long-term security practices and regular patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should consider stopping the use of the affected products or removing USB storage to mitigate the risk posed by the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, such as network segmentation, access control, and regular security audits, can help bolster overall system resilience and protect against potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Staying updated with vendor-released patches and security updates is crucial to mitigate vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-3331. Regularly applying patches can help address known security issues and enhance system security.