# CVE-2018-5999: Auth bypass in n/a

> Attackers can bypass authentication in AsusWRT routers to process POST requests, potentially allowing unauthorized actions.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Jan 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8pph-m89g-pffm

## What is CVE-2018-5999?

CVE-2018-5999 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in AsusWRT before 3.0.0.4.384_10007. In the handle_request function in router/httpd/httpd.c, processing of POST requests continues even if authentication fails.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5999?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Asus Asuswrt.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-5999?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-5999 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-5999 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-5999 exists.

Public exploit code:

- AsusWRT Router < 3.0.0.4.380.7743 - LAN Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)
- AsusWRT LAN Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution (metasploit)
- AsusWRT LAN - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- AsusWRT LAN - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-20334](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20334/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-6000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6000/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-15655](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15655/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2017-15653](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15653/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2017-15656](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15656/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-5999 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-5999 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Jan 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-5999 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5999/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5999/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5999
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5999
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-5999

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5999/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.