CVE-2016-1556 in WN604
Summary
by MITRE
Information disclosure in Netgear WN604 before 3.3.3; WNAP210, WNAP320, WNDAP350, and WNDAP360 before 3.5.5.0; and WND930 before 2.0.11 allows remote attackers to read the wireless WPS PIN or passphrase by visiting unauthenticated webpages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The CVE-2016-1556 vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting multiple Netgear wireless access point models including WN604, WNAP210, WNAP320, WNDAP350, WNDAP360, and WND930. This vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the web interface of these devices, specifically exposing sensitive wireless configuration data through unauthenticated web pages. The flaw allows remote attackers to obtain the wireless WPS PIN or passphrase without requiring any authentication credentials, fundamentally undermining the security posture of affected wireless networks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of insufficient authentication checks in network device management interfaces. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure as the WPS PIN and passphrase are critical components for wireless network authentication, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for unauthorized network access.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the web server component of the affected Netgear devices failing to properly validate access requests to specific configuration pages. When remote attackers access certain unauthenticated web endpoints, the system returns the WPS PIN or wireless passphrase in cleartext format, bypassing all authentication mechanisms. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the device's web interface implementation. The vulnerability exists because the web server does not properly implement session management or authentication checks for sensitive configuration data retrieval, allowing any remote user to exploit this weakness. The flaw is particularly concerning as it affects multiple device generations and firmware versions, indicating a systemic issue within the software architecture rather than an isolated bug. This vulnerability maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1046 for network service scanning and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, as attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to wireless network credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1556 is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected Netgear devices. Once exploited, attackers can gain immediate access to wireless network credentials, enabling them to connect to the network and potentially escalate privileges through lateral movement. The exposure of WPS PINs and passphrases creates an attack surface that allows unauthorized users to establish persistent network access without requiring additional authentication factors. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and small business environments where wireless networks serve as primary access points, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of wireless network protection. The impact extends to potential data breaches, network monitoring, and unauthorized access to connected systems, as wireless network credentials often provide access to broader network resources. Organizations may experience compliance violations if affected devices are part of regulated environments, as the vulnerability represents a failure to maintain proper access controls and information security. The ease of exploitation means that this vulnerability could be actively leveraged by threat actors without requiring advanced technical skills, making it particularly dangerous in environments with limited security monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1556 primarily involve firmware updates from Netgear addressing the specific access control vulnerabilities in affected devices. Organizations should immediately upgrade all impacted Netgear wireless access points to the patched firmware versions, specifically versions 3.3.3 for WN604, 3.5.5.0 for WNAP210, WNAP320, WNDAP350, and WNDAP360, and 2.0.11 for WND930. Network administrators should also consider disabling WPS functionality entirely if it is not required for network operations, as this eliminates the attack vector for WPS PIN exposure. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to isolate wireless networks, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns, and conducting comprehensive network audits to identify any devices that may still be running vulnerable firmware versions. Security monitoring should include checking for unauthorized access attempts to web interface endpoints and implementing proper access controls for network management interfaces. Organizations should also consider network access control policies that require strong authentication for any network management activities and establish procedures for regular firmware updates and security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.