CVE-2024-10193 Overview
CVE-2024-10193 is a command injection vulnerability affecting WAVLINK WN530H4, WN530HG4, and WN572HG3 routers through firmware version 20221028. The flaw resides in the ping_ddns function within the internet.cgi binary. Attackers can manipulate the DDNS argument to inject arbitrary operating system commands. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and the exploit has been publicly disclosed. According to VulDB, the vendor was contacted prior to disclosure but did not respond. This weakness is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected WAVLINK routers, leading to full device compromise and potential pivoting into internal networks.
Affected Products
- WAVLINK WN530H4 (firmware up to 20221028)
- WAVLINK WN530HG4 (firmware up to 20221028)
- WAVLINK WN572HG3 (firmware up to 20221028)
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-20 - CVE-2024-10193 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-10193
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the ping_ddns function inside the internet.cgi component of the WAVLINK router web management interface. The function accepts a DDNS parameter from HTTP requests and passes it into a system-level shell command without adequate sanitization. Attackers who supply shell metacharacters (such as ;, |, or backticks) in the DDNS argument can append arbitrary commands that execute in the router's operating context. Because embedded router services frequently run as root, successful exploitation can grant complete control over the device. The EPSS score of 15.4% places this issue in a high-probability tier for near-term exploitation attempts.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special shell elements ([CWE-77]) when constructing an operating system command from user-controlled input. The ping_ddns handler concatenates the attacker-supplied DDNS value directly into a shell invocation instead of using safe argument passing or strict input validation.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the router's management interface and elevated privileges on the web application. An attacker submits a crafted HTTP request to internet.cgi targeting the ping_ddns function, embedding shell metacharacters within the DDNS parameter. The injected payload executes with the privileges of the CGI process. Full technical details are documented in the public writeup referenced by VulDB entry #280967 and the researcher's Google Document.
No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Refer to the linked references for reproduction details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-10193
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected HTTP POST requests to internet.cgi containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, backticks, $()) inside the DDNS parameter.
- New or unfamiliar processes spawned by the router's httpd or CGI handler, such as sh, wget, curl, nc, or tftp.
- Outbound connections from the router to attacker-controlled infrastructure following DDNS configuration attempts.
- Modified startup scripts, cron entries, or new binaries dropped in writable partitions of the router filesystem.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs on the router for requests to internet.cgi with anomalous DDNS values.
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that flag command injection patterns in HTTP request bodies destined for embedded management interfaces.
- Correlate router-originated outbound traffic against baselines of expected DDNS update destinations.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward router syslog and administrative interface logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and analysis.
- Alert on any authentication events to the WAVLINK management interface from non-administrative source networks.
- Monitor DNS queries from router IP addresses for unusual lookup patterns indicative of command-and-control activity.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-10193
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict management interface access to trusted internal networks only and disable remote WAN administration.
- Change default and administrative credentials to strong, unique values to limit the pool of actors able to reach the authenticated attack surface.
- Segment vulnerable WAVLINK devices from sensitive internal assets and monitor them as untrusted endpoints.
- Replace affected models if the deployment cannot be isolated, since the vendor has not publicly responded to disclosure.
Patch Information
No vendor patch or advisory has been published at the time of writing. WAVLINK did not respond to the disclosure reported through VulDB submission #422811. Administrators should track the VulDB CTI entry for updates and consider firmware replacement or device retirement if a fix is not released.
Workarounds
- Disable the DDNS feature in the router's web interface if it is not required for operations.
- Place affected routers behind a firewall that blocks inbound access to the HTTP management service.
- Enforce ACLs at upstream network devices to limit which client IP addresses can reach internet.cgi.
- Consider migrating to a supported router platform that receives timely security updates.
# Example: block external access to the router management interface using iptables
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.0.0/16 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
