CVE-2013-3072 in WNDR4700
Summary
by MITRE
An Authentication Bypass vulnerability exists in NETGEAR Centria WNDR4700 Firmware 1.0.0.34 in http://<router_ip>/apply.cgi?/hdd_usr_setup.htm that when visited by any user, authenticated or not, causes the router to no longer require a password to access the web administration portal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The CVE-2013-3072 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in NETGEAR Centria WNDR4700 routers running firmware version 1.0.0.34. This vulnerability resides within the web administration interface and specifically targets the authentication mechanism that should protect access to the router's configuration portal. The flaw allows any remote user to bypass the standard password protection by simply visiting a specific URL endpoint, thereby undermining the fundamental security controls that protect network infrastructure from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the web server component of the router's firmware where the authentication check is improperly handled. When a user accesses the URL path http://<router_ip>/apply.cgi?/hdd_usr_setup.htm, the router fails to validate whether the user possesses proper credentials before granting access to the administrative interface. This represents a classic case of improper input validation and authentication handling, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses authentication bypass vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor access path that circumvents the normal authentication flow, allowing unauthenticated users to gain administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for network administrators and end users who rely on these devices for home or small office networking. Once exploited, an attacker can gain complete control over the router configuration, including the ability to modify network settings, change administrator passwords, enable or disable services, and potentially redirect network traffic through malicious DNS or routing changes. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK tactics including T1078 for valid accounts and T1021 for remote services, as it allows unauthorized access to a critical network device. The exposure of this vulnerability in a consumer-grade router means that any network user with basic internet connectivity can potentially compromise the entire network infrastructure without requiring any specialized tools or prior access.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental security flaw in the firmware's access control implementation. The affected router's web interface fails to properly enforce session management and authentication checks, creating a persistent vulnerability that remains active until the firmware is updated. Network administrators should immediately implement mitigation measures including firmware updates from NETGEAR, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and validation of authentication mechanisms in embedded systems, particularly those with web-based management interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to administrative interfaces from untrusted networks, while also ensuring that default credentials are changed and that only necessary services remain enabled on affected devices.