CVE-2024-24300: 4ipnet EAP-767 Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-24300 Overview

CVE-2024-24300 is a critical Incorrect Access Control vulnerability affecting 4ipnet EAP-767 wireless access point devices running firmware version 3.42.00. The device uses the same set of credentials regardless of how many times a user logs in, resulting in the content of the authentication cookie remaining unchanged. This static credential behavior creates a significant security weakness that could allow attackers to hijack authenticated sessions or bypass authentication mechanisms entirely.

Critical Impact

Static authentication cookies enable session hijacking and authentication bypass, potentially allowing unauthorized administrative access to network infrastructure devices.

Affected Products

• 4ipnet EAP-767 Firmware version 3.42.00
• 4ipnet EAP-767 Hardware (all versions when running affected firmware)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-02-14 - CVE-2024-24300 published to NVD
• 2025-03-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-24300

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a fundamental flaw in the session management implementation of the 4ipnet EAP-767 access point. The device fails to implement proper session token rotation, instead relying on static credentials that persist across multiple authentication sessions. When a user authenticates to the device, the resulting cookie value remains constant, making it trivial for an attacker who obtains this cookie to impersonate legitimate users indefinitely.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control), indicating a failure to properly restrict access to resources based on authentication state. In network appliances like wireless access points, this type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with administrative control over critical network infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of session management within the EAP-767 firmware. Rather than generating unique, cryptographically random session tokens for each authentication attempt, the device appears to use static or predictable credential values. This design flaw means that:

1. Session cookies do not expire or rotate upon re-authentication
2. The same credential data is used regardless of login frequency or context
3. No mechanism exists to invalidate compromised session tokens

This static credential approach violates fundamental security principles for session management in web-based administration interfaces.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-24300 is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability through the following scenarios:

Session Hijacking Attack:
An attacker positioned on the same network segment can capture authentication cookies through network sniffing (if HTTPS is not enforced) or through other means such as XSS vulnerabilities. Once captured, the static nature of the cookies allows the attacker to reuse them indefinitely to access the device's administrative interface.

Credential Replay Attack:
Since the cookie content remains unchanged across sessions, an attacker who obtains valid credentials through any means (social engineering, previous breaches, or physical access) can use those credentials repeatedly without triggering session invalidation mechanisms.

The network-based attack vector with no required privileges makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with these devices deployed in accessible network locations.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-24300

Indicators of Compromise

• Multiple administrative sessions originating from different IP addresses using identical session tokens
• Unusual login patterns or administrative access from unexpected network locations
• Network traffic analysis revealing identical authentication cookie values across different time periods
• Unauthorized configuration changes to EAP-767 devices

Detection Strategies

• Implement network monitoring to detect administrative access to EAP-767 devices from unauthorized IP ranges
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify repeated authentication attempts with identical session parameters
• Configure SIEM alerts for administrative actions on network infrastructure devices during off-hours
• Monitor for configuration changes on wireless access points that correlate with suspicious network activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on all 4ipnet EAP-767 devices and forward logs to a centralized SIEM
• Implement network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic
• Deploy network traffic analysis tools to baseline normal administrative access patterns
• Conduct regular audits of device configurations to detect unauthorized modifications

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-24300

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to EAP-767 management interfaces using firewall rules or VLAN segmentation
• Implement strong network-level authentication (802.1X) for devices accessing the management interface
• Enable HTTPS for all administrative access to prevent session token interception
• Consider implementing a VPN requirement for remote administrative access to affected devices

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor advisory or official patch has been released by 4ipnet for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor 4ipnet's security communications for firmware updates addressing this issue. A proof-of-concept repository has been published on GitHub containing additional technical details about this vulnerability.

Contact 4ipnet support directly to inquire about the availability of patched firmware versions. Until a patch is available, implement the workarounds and mitigation strategies outlined below.

Workarounds

• Isolate EAP-767 management interfaces on a dedicated VLAN accessible only from trusted administrator workstations
• Implement network access control lists (ACLs) to restrict which IP addresses can connect to the device's web interface
• Deploy a network firewall or reverse proxy in front of the device to add an additional authentication layer
• Consider replacing affected devices with alternative products that implement proper session management if no patch becomes available

# Example: Restrict management access using iptables on an upstream firewall
# Only allow access from trusted admin subnet 192.168.10.0/24
iptables -A FORWARD -d <EAP-767-IP> -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d <EAP-767-IP> -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d <EAP-767-IP> -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP