CVE-2024-54006: 501 Wireless Client Bridge RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-54006 Overview

Multiple command injection vulnerabilities have been identified in the web interface of the HPE 501 Wireless Client Bridge. These vulnerabilities allow authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with privileged user permissions. While exploitation requires administrative authentication credentials, successful attacks can result in complete system compromise.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can achieve arbitrary command execution as a privileged user on the underlying operating system, potentially leading to full device compromise and network infrastructure attacks.

Affected Products

• HPE 501 Wireless Client Bridge

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-07 - CVE CVE-2024-54006 published to NVD
• 2025-01-07 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-54006

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command), commonly referred to as command injection. The web interface of the HPE 501 Wireless Client Bridge fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to system-level command execution functions. When an authenticated administrator interacts with vulnerable web interface parameters, malicious input containing shell metacharacters or command separators can break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary commands.

The network-based attack vector allows remote exploitation without requiring user interaction, though the attacker must first obtain valid administrative credentials. Once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the command injection to execute commands with elevated privileges on the device's operating system, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure connected to the wireless bridge.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and sanitization in the web interface's command handling logic. User-controlled input fields are concatenated directly into system commands without adequate filtering of shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, $(), or backticks. This allows an attacker to inject additional commands that the system executes alongside or instead of the intended operations.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network through the device's web management interface. An attacker must first authenticate with valid administrative credentials, which could be obtained through credential theft, brute force attacks, default credentials, or social engineering. Once authenticated, the attacker identifies vulnerable input fields in the web interface and crafts malicious payloads containing command injection sequences.

The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting shell commands through vulnerable parameters in the web interface. Common techniques include using command separators (;, &&, ||) or command substitution syntax ($(command) or `command`) to append malicious commands to legitimate operations. The injected commands execute with the privileges of the web server process, which typically runs as root or with elevated permissions on embedded network devices.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54006

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual administrative login patterns or failed authentication attempts preceding successful logins
• Unexpected outbound network connections from the wireless bridge device
• Anomalous process execution or new services running on the device
• Modification of system configuration files or creation of new user accounts
• Presence of reverse shell connections or unusual listening ports

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web interface access logs for requests containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, $, backticks) in parameters
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect command-and-control communications from infrastructure devices
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for common command injection patterns in HTTP traffic
• Review authentication logs for administrative access from unexpected IP addresses or during unusual hours

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on the HPE 501 Wireless Client Bridge and forward logs to a SIEM solution
• Implement network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic
• Configure alerting for any administrative actions performed on network infrastructure devices
• Establish baseline behavior for the device and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54006

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the security patch provided by HPE immediately (refer to HPE Security Advisory)
• Review and rotate administrative credentials for all affected devices
• Restrict web interface access to trusted IP addresses only using firewall rules or ACLs
• Disable remote management access if not strictly required
• Audit administrative access logs for signs of compromise

Patch Information

HPE has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the HPE Security Advisory for detailed patch instructions and download the latest firmware version for the 501 Wireless Client Bridge that addresses this command injection vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Restrict management interface access to a dedicated management VLAN or network segment
• Implement strong authentication policies including complex passwords and multi-factor authentication where supported
• Use a jump host or bastion server for administrative access to network devices
• Disable the web interface entirely if CLI-based management is sufficient for operations
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to filter malicious input if the management interface must remain accessible

# Example firewall configuration to restrict management access
# Allow management access only from trusted admin network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.10.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.10.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP