CVE-2002-2116 in RM-356
Summary
by MITRE
Netgear RM-356 and RT-338 series SOHO routers allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a UDP port scan, as demonstrated using nmap.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2024
The CVE-2002-2116 vulnerability affects Netgear RM-356 and RT-338 series SOHO routers, representing a classic example of a denial of service flaw that exploits network scanning techniques to disrupt router operations. This vulnerability specifically targets the routers' handling of UDP port scans, which are commonly used by security professionals and malicious actors to discover open ports and services on network devices. The issue demonstrates how network infrastructure devices can be compromised through seemingly benign scanning activities that trigger unexpected behavior in the device's packet processing mechanisms.
The technical flaw in these routers stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the network stack processing UDP packets. When the routers receive UDP port scan packets, particularly those generated by tools like nmap, the device fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming packets before processing them. This lack of proper packet filtering and validation causes the router's operating system to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the network connection unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where UDP packets are processed without sufficient checks on packet structure, source addresses, or port numbers, allowing malformed or specially crafted packets to trigger the device's memory management or process scheduling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can affect small office and home office environments where these routers serve as primary network gateways. When exploited, the denial of service condition causes the router to reboot or become unresponsive, disrupting all network communications for connected devices including computers, phones, and other networked equipment. Network administrators and users experience complete loss of connectivity until the device is manually reset or power-cycled, which can result in productivity losses and potential business interruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to anyone with network access to attempt the attack.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to improper input validation, and demonstrates how network device firmware can contain critical flaws that affect availability. The attack vector described in the vulnerability follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1498, specifically focusing on network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure from potentially compromised devices, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious scanning activity, and ensure that network devices are regularly updated with firmware patches. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing rate limiting on incoming UDP traffic and configuring routers to drop suspicious packets rather than process them, which would prevent the exploitation of this specific vulnerability while maintaining normal network operations.