CVE-2012-6341 in WGR614
Summary
by MITRE
An Information Disclosure vulnerability exists in the my config file in NEtGEAR WGR614 v7 and v9, which could let a malicious user recover all previously used passwords on the device, for both the control panel and WEP/WPA/WPA2, in plaintext. This is a different issue than CVE-2012-6340.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6341 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in NetGEAR WGR614 v7 and v9 wireless routers that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected devices. This vulnerability resides within the device's configuration file handling mechanism, specifically in how the system stores and manages authentication credentials. The flaw allows unauthorized users to extract plaintext passwords for both the administrative web interface and wireless network security protocols including WEP, WPA, and WPA2. Unlike similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2012-6340, this issue demonstrates a distinct attack vector that specifically targets the persistence of credential storage mechanisms within the router's firmware implementation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information disclosure weaknesses in software systems. The flaw essentially creates a path for an attacker to access configuration files that contain sensitive authentication data without requiring legitimate credentials or advanced exploitation techniques. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls and inadequate encryption of stored credentials within the device's file system. When the router's configuration file is accessed, it contains all previously configured passwords in unencrypted format, making the entire wireless network and administrative access vulnerable to compromise. This represents a fundamental failure in the device's credential management architecture where sensitive information is stored in plaintext rather than being properly hashed or encrypted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization or individual utilizing affected NetGEAR WGR614 v7 and v9 devices. Once exploited, attackers gain immediate access to both the administrative control panel and all wireless network credentials, enabling them to modify router settings, monitor network traffic, and establish persistent access points within the network. The plaintext nature of the stored passwords means that even if users change their credentials, the previous passwords remain accessible through this vulnerability, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit historical authentication data. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home network environments where these devices may be deployed without proper network segmentation or additional security controls, potentially allowing lateral movement and extended access to network resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected users and network administrators to address the exposed credentials and strengthen overall network security posture. The most effective immediate solution involves changing all network passwords and administrative credentials on affected devices, followed by firmware updates from NetGEAR if available. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate affected devices from critical network resources, and additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication should be considered where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to router administrative interfaces, and network administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected devices within their infrastructure. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure credential storage practices and proper access control mechanisms in network infrastructure devices, highlighting the need for robust security controls that prevent information disclosure in all system components.