CVE-2022-45005 is a critical command injection vulnerability identified in the IP-COM EW9 router firmware version V15.11.0.14(9732). The vulnerability resides in the cmd_get_ping_output function, which is responsible for handling ping command outputs. Due to improper input validation or sanitization, an attacker can inject arbitrary commands that the system executes with the privileges of the affected service. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), indicating that the input passed to the command execution interface is not properly sanitized, allowing command injection. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the critical severity, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), no required privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). This means that an unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability over the network without any user interaction, potentially leading to full system compromise. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and high impact make this a significant threat. The lack of vendor or product information beyond the IP-COM EW9 router model limits detailed attribution, but the vulnerability is specific to this device and firmware version. The absence of patch links suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or disclosed at the time of this report.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2022-45005 could have severe consequences. IP-COM routers are commonly used in small to medium enterprises and possibly in some enterprise branch offices. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands remotely, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, network pivoting, and disruption of network services. This could compromise the confidentiality of sensitive business data, integrity of network configurations, and availability of critical network infrastructure. Given the router's role as a network gateway, attackers could establish persistent footholds, intercept or manipulate traffic, and launch further attacks within the internal network. The critical nature of the vulnerability and the lack of required authentication increase the risk of widespread exploitation, especially in environments where these devices are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet. European organizations in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and government, which rely heavily on secure and reliable network infrastructure, would be particularly vulnerable to operational disruptions and data breaches resulting from this vulnerability.

1. Immediate Network Segmentation: Isolate IP-COM EW9 routers from direct exposure to untrusted networks, especially the internet. Place them behind additional firewalls or VPN gateways to limit access to trusted administrators only. 2. Access Control: Restrict management interfaces to trusted IP addresses and disable remote management features if not required. 3. Monitoring and Detection: Implement network monitoring to detect unusual command execution patterns or unexpected traffic originating from the router. Use IDS/IPS signatures tailored to detect command injection attempts targeting the cmd_get_ping_output function. 4. Firmware Updates: Continuously monitor IP-COM vendor communications for firmware patches addressing this vulnerability and apply updates promptly once available. 5. Temporary Workarounds: If patches are unavailable, consider disabling or restricting the functionality related to ping diagnostics or command execution on the device, if configurable. 6. Incident Response Preparedness: Prepare incident response plans specific to network device compromise, including procedures for isolating affected devices and restoring secure configurations. 7. Vendor Engagement: Engage with IP-COM support channels to obtain detailed advisories and timelines for remediation. 8. Inventory and Asset Management: Maintain an accurate inventory of all IP-COM EW9 devices in the network to ensure no vulnerable devices remain unaddressed.