CVE-2016-5068
📋 TL;DR
Sierra Wireless GX 440 devices with ALEOS firmware 4.3.2 have an authentication bypass vulnerability in the Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi endpoint. This allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. Organizations using these specific Sierra Wireless cellular routers are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Sierra Wireless GX 440
📦 What is this software?
Aleos Firmware by Sierrawireless
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root, potentially taking full control of the router, intercepting/modifying network traffic, or using it as a pivot point into internal networks.
Likely Case
Attackers gain administrative access to the router, enabling them to reconfigure network settings, intercept traffic, or disable connectivity.
If Mitigated
If properly segmented and firewalled, impact is limited to the router itself with minimal lateral movement potential.
🎯 Exploit Status
The vulnerability is simple to exploit via HTTP requests to the vulnerable CGI endpoint without any authentication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: ALEOS firmware 4.3.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.sierrawireless.com/resources/security-bulletins/sierra-wireless-technical-bulletin---swi-psa-2016-006-cve-2016-5068/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the latest firmware from Sierra Wireless support portal. 2. Log into the GX 440 web interface. 3. Navigate to System > Firmware Update. 4. Upload and install the new firmware. 5. Reboot the device after installation completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block CGI endpoint access
linuxUse firewall rules to block access to the vulnerable Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi endpoint
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -m string --string "Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi" --algo bm -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -m string --string "Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi" --algo bm -j DROP
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Segment GX 440 devices on isolated network segments with strict firewall rules limiting inbound access
- Disable remote management interfaces and ensure devices are not internet-facing
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Attempt to access http://[device-ip]/cgi-bin/Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi without authentication. If it responds with system information, the device is vulnerable.Check Version:
curl -s http://[device-ip]/cgi-bin/Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi | grep -i version || ssh admin@[device-ip] 'cat /etc/version'Verify Fix Applied:
After patching, attempt the same access and verify you receive an authentication prompt or error instead of system information.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /cgi-bin/Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi without preceding authentication logs
- Unusual command execution or configuration changes from unauthenticated sources
Network Indicators:
- HTTP GET requests to Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi endpoint from unexpected sources
- Sudden changes in router configuration or traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source="router_logs" AND (url="*Embedded_Ace_Get_Task.cgi*" AND NOT (user="*" OR auth_success="true"))