Analysis Summary

Software patches have been released by ASUS to fix a serious security vulnerability that was affecting its routers and could be used by hostile actors to get beyond authentication. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-3080, has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of a possible 10.0.

The vulnerability is in some ASUS router models that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to log in and use the device. A high-severity buffer overflow vulnerability tagged as CVE-2024-3079 (CVSS score: 7.2) that might be used as a weapon by remote attackers with administrative access to run arbitrary commands on the device has also been addressed by the company.

A malevolent actor may craft CVE-2024-3080 and CVE-2024-3079 into an exploit chain in a probable attack scenario to evade authentication and run malicious code on vulnerable devices. These flaws affect the subsequent products:

• RT-AC68U version 3.0.0.4.386_51668 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.386_51685)
• RT-AC86U version 3.0.0.4.386_51915 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.386_51925)
• RT-AX57 version 3.0.0.4.386_52294 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.386_52303)
• RT-AX58U version 3.0.0.4.388_23925 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.388_24762)
• RT-AX88U version 3.0.0.4.388_24198 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.388_24209)
• ZenWiFi XT8 version V2 3.0.0.4.388_24609 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.388_24621)
• ZenWiFi XT8 version 3.0.0.4.388_24609 and earlier (Fixed in 3.0.0.4.388_24621)

Another significant vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-3912 with a CVSS score of 9.8, was patched by ASUS earlier in January. This vulnerability might allow an unauthorized remote attacker to upload arbitrary files and run system commands on the device. To protect themselves from any dangers, owners of impacted routers are encouraged to update to the most recent version.

Impact

• Unauthorized Access
• Command Execution
• Security Bypass

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2024-3080
• CVE-2024-3079

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Refer to ASUS Product Security Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.