CVE-2024-28875 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-798, indicating the use of hard-coded credentials in the LevelOne WBR-6012 router. The flaw exists in the device's web services, where a hard-coded password '@m!t2K1' is embedded at memory address 0x80100910 and checked during the first 30 seconds (300 seconds in pseudocode but description states 30 seconds, likely a documentation inconsistency) after boot. If a login attempt uses this password within this time frame, the device grants admin-level access (return value 1), bypassing normal authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is exacerbated by other flaws that allow an attacker to force the device to reboot, thus resetting the exploitation window and enabling repeated unauthorized access. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.1 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, no privileges or user interaction required, but with high attack complexity. This vulnerability allows attackers to fully compromise the device remotely during the vulnerable window, potentially leading to network compromise, data interception, or further lateral movement. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the risk remains significant due to the ease of exploitation and critical nature of the device.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security, particularly for those using LevelOne WBR-6012 routers in their infrastructure. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized administrative access, enabling attackers to alter configurations, intercept or redirect traffic, deploy malware, or disrupt network availability. This could compromise sensitive data confidentiality, disrupt business operations, and damage organizational reputation. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications are especially vulnerable due to their reliance on secure and stable network infrastructure. The ability to force reboots and repeatedly exploit the vulnerability increases the threat persistence and potential for widespread disruption. Given the high CVSS score and the nature of the device, the impact on European organizations could be severe if not mitigated promptly.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on network-level controls: restrict access to the router's management interface to trusted IP addresses and VLANs, ideally isolating it from the public internet. 2. Monitor network traffic for unusual reboot patterns or unauthorized access attempts during device boot time. 3. Disable or restrict remote management features if not essential. 4. Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised router. 5. Contact LevelOne for firmware updates or security advisories addressing this vulnerability; apply patches as soon as they become available. 6. If firmware updates are unavailable, consider replacing affected devices with models not susceptible to this vulnerability. 7. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect exploitation attempts targeting the hard-coded credential window. 8. Educate IT staff about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include steps for this specific threat. 9. Regularly audit device configurations and logs to detect unauthorized access.