D-Link has announced that it will not be issuing fixes for four critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities affecting its DIR-846W routers, citing the end-of-life (EOL) status of the product. Discovered by security researcher yali-1002, these vulnerabilities include CVE-2024-41622, CVE-2024-44340, CVE-2024-44341, and CVE-2024-44342. Of these, three vulnerabilities are classified as critical with a CVSS v3 score of 9.8, indicating their severe impact potential. The researcher publicly released details of these flaws on August 27, 2024, although proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits have not yet been disclosed.
D-Link has acknowledged the critical nature of these vulnerabilities but has stated that, due to the product’s EOL status, no updates or patches will be provided. The DIR-846W routers reached EOL status in 2020, meaning they have not received support or updates for over four years. Although these routers were primarily sold outside the U.S., their continued presence in markets like Latin America means that the vulnerabilities could still pose significant risks to users globally. The company’s policy stipulates that once a product reaches EOL, it is no longer supported, and development for its firmware ceases.
Given the absence of fixes, D-Link strongly advises users to replace their DIR-846W routers with models that are currently supported. For those who cannot immediately upgrade, the company recommends ensuring that the router is running the latest available firmware, using strong and unique passwords for the web administration portal, and enabling WiFi encryption to mitigate security risks. These measures can help reduce the likelihood of exploitation until a replacement can be arranged.
The vulnerabilities in D-Link routers are often exploited by malware botnets, such as Mirai and Moobot, which utilize these weaknesses to form distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) networks. Recent incidents, including the exploitation of flaws in the DIR-859 model, have demonstrated how such vulnerabilities can lead to serious breaches and password theft. Therefore, securing affected routers, even without new patches, is crucial to preventing potential attacks and safeguarding connected devices against unauthorized access and exploitation.
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