Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some D-Link DIR-850L Rev A/B router firmware stores the password shadow file with permissions that allow broader local reading than intended. If an attacker can read files on the device, password hashes may be exposed. The sources do not identify active exploitation or a confirmed vendor patch for this specific CVE.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where affected routers protect business networks, remote sites, or exposed management interfaces. The direct evidence does not prove active exploitation, but credential hash exposure on network edge equipment can materially increase follow-on compromise risk.
Technical view
CVE-2017-14426 covers incorrect 0644 permissions on /var/etc/shadow, the target of the /etc/shadow symlink, on D-Link DIR-850L Rev A and Rev B firmware versions listed by the CVE. This can expose password hashes to any process or user able to read that file on the router.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to D-Link DIR-850L Rev A through FW114WWb07_h2ab_beta1 and Rev B through FW208WWb02, based on the CVE description. Internet exposure depends on whether management, file access, or other router services are reachable.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The issue is most useful after an attacker obtains local access, device file-read capability, or another path to inspect router files. Treat it as a credential-disclosure weakness, not a standalone remote takeover from the available evidence.
Researcher notes
The CVE record gives precise firmware bounds but no CVSS, CWE, or patch detail. Keep analysis scoped to file permission exposure unless validating against the referenced disclosure. Do not assume exploitability without confirming an access path to read device files.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory D-Link DIR-850L Rev A and Rev B devices and firmware versions.
- Check D-Link guidance for fixed firmware or replacement recommendations.
- Restrict router administration to trusted networks or VPN access only.
- Change router credentials after remediation if exposure is suspected.
- Retire affected devices if no supported corrective firmware is available.
Validation and detection
- Confirm hardware revision and firmware version on each DIR-850L device.
- Verify whether affected versions match the CVE-listed firmware ranges.
- Check whether /etc/shadow resolves to /var/etc/shadow on the device.
- Confirm file permissions are not world-readable after remediation.
- Review logs for unexpected administrative or file-access activity.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2017-14426 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://pierrekim.github.io/blog/2017-09-08-dlink-850l-mydlink-cloud-0days-vulnerabilities.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.