CVE-2026-2163 Overview
A command injection vulnerability has been identified in D-Link DIR-600 routers running firmware versions up to 2.15WWb02. This vulnerability affects unknown code within the ssdp.cgi file, where manipulation of the HTTP_ST, REMOTE_ADDR, REMOTE_PORT, and SERVER_ID arguments enables remote command injection attacks. The exploit is publicly available, and this vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands on vulnerable D-Link DIR-600 routers through the ssdp.cgi endpoint, potentially leading to full device compromise. The product is end-of-life with no vendor support available.
Affected Products
- D-Link DIR-600 Router
- D-Link DIR-600 Firmware (versions up to 2.15WWb02)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-08 - CVE-2026-2163 published to NVD
- 2026-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-2163
Vulnerability Analysis
This command injection vulnerability (CWE-77) stems from improper handling of user-supplied input in the ssdp.cgi component of the D-Link DIR-600 router firmware. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary system commands through specifically crafted requests that manipulate HTTP header parameters.
The attack can be initiated remotely over the network without requiring user interaction. Since the D-Link DIR-600 has reached end-of-life status and is no longer maintained by the vendor, no official patches will be released, making device replacement the only viable long-term remediation strategy.
Root Cause
The root cause is an injection flaw (CWE-74) combined with command injection (CWE-77) in the ssdp.cgi script. The affected parameters—HTTP_ST, REMOTE_ADDR, REMOTE_PORT, and SERVER_ID—are not properly sanitized before being passed to system command execution functions. This allows shell metacharacters and command separators to break out of the intended context and execute attacker-controlled commands with the privileges of the web server process.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to send specially crafted HTTP requests to the ssdp.cgi endpoint on the target router. The exploitation requires high privileges (administrator access) but no user interaction is needed.
The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting shell commands through the vulnerable parameters. An attacker would craft malicious values for HTTP_ST, REMOTE_ADDR, REMOTE_PORT, or SERVER_ID that include command separators (such as ;, |, or $()) followed by arbitrary commands. When the ssdp.cgi script processes these values without proper sanitization, the injected commands are executed on the underlying operating system.
For detailed technical information and proof-of-concept code, refer to the GitHub PoC Repository and VulDB entry #344865.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2163
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual HTTP requests to /ssdp.cgi containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, or $()
- Unexpected outbound network connections from the router to external IP addresses
- Modified router configuration or new administrative accounts
- Suspicious processes running on the router that are not part of normal operation
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic for HTTP requests targeting ssdp.cgi with malformed or suspicious parameter values
- Implement intrusion detection rules to identify command injection patterns in HTTP headers and parameters
- Use network traffic analysis to detect anomalous behavior from router devices on the network
- Review router access logs for unusual authentication attempts or administrative actions
Monitoring Recommendations
- Deploy network-based intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for D-Link router exploitation attempts
- Implement segmentation to isolate legacy network devices from critical infrastructure
- Monitor for firmware version information through network scanning to identify vulnerable devices
- Set up alerts for any management interface access attempts from untrusted network segments
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2163
Immediate Actions Required
- Replace the D-Link DIR-600 router with a currently supported device that receives security updates
- If immediate replacement is not possible, disable remote management interfaces and restrict access to the router's web interface to trusted internal networks only
- Implement network segmentation to isolate the vulnerable router from sensitive network resources
- Block external access to the router's management interface using upstream firewall rules
Patch Information
No official patch is available for this vulnerability. The D-Link DIR-600 has reached end-of-life status and is no longer supported by the maintainer. D-Link has not released and will not release security updates for this product.
For more information, visit the D-Link Official Site to review end-of-life product announcements and recommended replacement devices.
Workarounds
- Disable the SSDP/UPnP functionality on the router if possible to reduce the attack surface
- Configure firewall rules to block access to the ssdp.cgi endpoint from all networks
- Restrict router management interface access to specific trusted IP addresses only
- Use a dedicated VLAN to isolate the vulnerable device from production networks until replacement
# Example upstream firewall rule to block access to vulnerable endpoint
# (Apply on upstream firewall/router, not the vulnerable device itself)
iptables -A FORWARD -d <DIR-600_IP> -p tcp --dport 80 -m string --string "ssdp.cgi" --algo bm -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d <DIR-600_IP> -p tcp --dport 443 -m string --string "ssdp.cgi" --algo bm -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
