CVE-2002-2020 in RP114
Summary
by MITRE
Netgear RP114 Cable/DSL Web Safe Router Firmware 3.26 uses a default administrator password and accepts admin logins on the external interface, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges if the password is not changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2020 represents a critical security flaw in Netgear RP114 Cable/DSL Web Safe Router firmware version 3.26 that exposes administrative access to remote attackers. This issue stems from the device's default configuration where the administrator password remains unchanged from its factory setting, creating an easily exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The router's design flaw allows administrative login attempts to be accepted through the external network interface, eliminating the security boundary that should normally separate internal trusted networks from external untrusted networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the router's authentication mechanism failing to enforce proper access controls for administrative functions. When a default password is not changed by the system administrator, it creates a persistent backdoor that remains accessible to anyone who can reach the device's external interface. The firmware's lack of proper password strength enforcement and its acceptance of administrative logins from external connections violates fundamental network security principles that require administrative interfaces to be accessible only from trusted internal networks. This configuration allows attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks without requiring physical access or specialized knowledge of the device's internal workings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected router. Once compromised, attackers can modify network configurations, redirect traffic, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or establish persistent access points within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that deploy these routers without changing default credentials, potentially exposing entire network infrastructures to unauthorized access. The risk is particularly elevated because the default password remains unchanged across all devices of this model, meaning attackers can exploit this vulnerability across multiple installations without needing to discover specific device configurations. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic example of poor security configuration management.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is significantly expanded by the router's external interface accepting administrative connections, which violates the principle of least privilege and network segmentation. According to ATT&CK framework category T1078, adversaries can use default credentials to gain access to systems, and this vulnerability provides a direct pathway for such attacks. Organizations using this router configuration face potential compromise of their entire network infrastructure, including data exfiltration, network disruption, and the establishment of persistent command and control channels. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security configuration management and the necessity of changing default passwords immediately upon device deployment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate password changes for all affected devices, implementing network segmentation to prevent external access to administrative interfaces, and establishing comprehensive asset management procedures. Organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement regular security audits to identify unpatched or misconfigured devices. The solution requires mandatory password complexity requirements, disabling external administrative access, and regular security assessments to ensure proper configuration. Additionally, network administrators should establish procedures for tracking and managing all network devices, ensuring that default credentials are changed and that administrative interfaces are properly secured against external access attempts.