CVE-2016-1555 in WN604
Summary
by MITRE
(1) boardData102.php, (2) boardData103.php, (3) boardDataJP.php, (4) boardDataNA.php, and (5) boardDataWW.php in Netgear WN604 before 3.3.3 and WN802Tv2, WNAP210v2, WNAP320, WNDAP350, WNDAP360, and WNDAP660 before 3.5.5.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1555 represents a critical remote command execution flaw affecting multiple Netgear wireless networking devices. This vulnerability exists in several board data PHP scripts including boardData102.php, boardData103.php, boardDataJP.php, boardDataNA.php, and boardDataWW.php across various Netgear models. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices without authentication, presenting a severe security risk that could enable complete system compromise. The affected devices include WN604 routers prior to version 3.3.3 and several WN802Tv2, WNAP210v2, WNAP320, WNDAP350, WNDAP360, and WNDAP660 models before version 3.5.5.0, making this vulnerability widespread across multiple product lines.
This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the affected PHP scripts. The flaw falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping. The affected scripts likely process user-provided parameters that are then passed to system execution functions such as exec(), system(), or shell_exec() without adequate validation or filtering. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input parameters that contain shell commands, which are then executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically root or administrative privileges on the affected devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected network devices. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary commands including but not limited to installing backdoors, modifying device configurations, accessing network traffic, performing man-in-the-middle attacks, or using the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects enterprise and residential networks alike, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt network services, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent access to the network infrastructure. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit the vulnerability remotely from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access or prior credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Netgear to versions 3.3.3 and 3.5.5.0 respectively for the affected devices. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation, particularly by placing affected devices in restricted network zones. Additional security measures include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious command execution patterns, disabling unnecessary services, and applying firewall rules to restrict access to affected devices. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify command injection attempts and establish baseline network behavior to quickly detect anomalous activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1021.001 for remote services, making it a significant concern for security teams implementing defensive measures against persistent threats.