CVE-2024-40091 identifies a security vulnerability in the Vilo 5 Mesh WiFi System firmware versions up to 5.16.1.33. The root cause is the absence of authentication controls in the Boa webserver embedded within the device. Boa is a lightweight HTTP server commonly used in embedded systems. Due to this lack of authentication, remote unauthenticated attackers can connect to the webserver and retrieve system logs. These logs may contain sensitive information such as network configurations, device status, or other operational data that could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function). The CVSS v3.1 vector indicates an attack vector of adjacent network (AV:A), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no exploits have been reported in the wild, suggesting limited active exploitation but a clear risk if attackers gain network access. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality of the system but does not allow modification or disruption of device operation.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-40091 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive system logs from Vilo 5 Mesh WiFi devices. This can lead to information leakage that attackers may use for reconnaissance, facilitating subsequent targeted attacks such as credential theft, network mapping, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities. While the vulnerability does not allow direct control or disruption of the device, the exposure of internal logs can compromise network security posture. Organizations relying on these mesh WiFi systems for critical connectivity may face increased risk of lateral movement or data breaches if attackers leverage the leaked information. The medium CVSS score reflects that while the attack complexity is high and requires network proximity, the confidentiality impact is significant. The lack of authentication also means that any attacker with access to the device’s management network segment can exploit this vulnerability without user interaction or credentials. This risk is particularly relevant in environments where network segmentation is weak or remote management interfaces are exposed.

To mitigate CVE-2024-40091, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Immediately restrict access to the Vilo 5 Mesh WiFi management interfaces by enforcing network segmentation and firewall rules that limit access to trusted administrators only. 2) Disable remote management features if not required, or ensure they are only accessible via secure VPN or trusted networks. 3) Monitor network traffic for unusual access attempts to the Boa webserver ports and review logs for suspicious activity. 4) Engage with Vilo support or vendors to obtain firmware updates or patches addressing this authentication flaw as soon as they become available. 5) As a temporary workaround, consider deploying network-level authentication or reverse proxies that enforce access controls in front of the vulnerable webserver. 6) Educate network administrators about the risk and ensure strong password policies and multi-factor authentication are in place for device management where possible. 7) Conduct regular security audits of mesh WiFi deployments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.