CVE-2017-6549

HIGH EXPLOITED IN THE WILD

ASUS RT-AC53 and other routers - Session Hijacking via HTTP Header Manipulation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2017-6549 has been observed exploited in the wild (reported by VulnCheck KEV, InTheWild.io). EIP tracks 1 public exploit from researchers including Bruno Bierbaumer.

AI-analyzed exploit summary The exploit leverages a flawed session validation mechanism in ASUS httpd where setting the cookie to 'cgi_logout' and a specific User-Agent bypasses authentication, allowing arbitrary command execution if an admin session is active.

Description

Session hijack vulnerability in httpd on ASUS RT-N56U, RT-N66U, RT-AC66U, RT-N66R, RT-AC66R, RT-AC68U, RT-AC68R, RT-N66W, RT-AC66W, RT-AC87R, RT-AC87U, RT-AC51U, RT-AC68P, RT-N11P, RT-N12+, RT-N12E B1, RT-AC3200, RT-AC53U, RT-AC1750, RT-AC1900P, RT-N300, and RT-AC750 routers with firmware before 3.0.0.4.380.7378; RT-AC68W routers with firmware before 3.0.0.4.380.7266; and RT-N600, RT-N12+ B1, RT-N11P B1, RT-N12VP B1, RT-N12E C1, RT-N300 B1, and RT-N12+ Pro routers with firmware before 3.0.0.4.380.9488; and Asuswrt-Merlin firmware before 380.65_2 allows remote attackers to steal any active admin session by sending cgi_logout and asusrouter-Windows-IFTTT-1.0 in certain HTTP headers.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Bruno Bierbaumer · textwebappshardware
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41572

The exploit leverages a flawed session validation mechanism in ASUS httpd where setting the cookie to 'cgi_logout' and a specific User-Agent bypasses authentication, allowing arbitrary command execution if an admin session is active.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Auth Bypass
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: ASUS httpd (specific version not specified)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: An active admin session on the target router
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41572/
Various Sources x_refsource_confirm
https://asuswrt.lostrealm.ca/changelog
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96938
Exploit, Third Party Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://bierbaumer.net/security/asuswrt/#session-stealing

Scores

CVSS v3 8.8
EPSS 0.0755
EPSS Percentile 93.7%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

VulnCheck KEV 2018-07-13
InTheWild.io 2018-07-01
CWE
CWE-287
Status published
Products (1)
asus/rt-ac53_firmware 3.0.0.4.380.6038
Published Mar 09, 2017
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026