CVE-2016-5638 in WNDR4500
Summary
by MITRE
There are few web pages associated with the genie app on the Netgear WNDR4500 running firmware version V1.0.1.40_1.0.6877. Genie app adds some capabilities over the Web GUI and can be accessed even when you are away from home. A remote attacker can access genie_ping.htm or genie_ping2.htm or genie_ping3.htm page without authentication. Once accessed, the page will be redirected to the aCongratulations2.htma page, which reveals some sensitive information such as 2.4GHz & 5GHz Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Network Key (Password) in clear text.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-5638 represents a critical authentication bypass issue affecting Netgear WNDR4500 routers with specific firmware versions. This flaw resides within the genie application component that extends beyond the standard web graphical user interface, providing additional remote management capabilities. The genie app was designed to offer enhanced functionality for users accessing their router remotely, but this particular implementation contains a significant security weakness that undermines the device's overall security posture.
The technical flaw manifests through three specific web pages - genie_ping.htm, genie_ping2.htm, and genie_ping3.htm - which fail to implement proper authentication mechanisms. These pages can be accessed by any remote attacker without requiring valid credentials, creating an unauthorized access vector that directly violates fundamental security principles. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues. When an attacker successfully accesses these pages, they are automatically redirected to a Congratulations2.htma page that inadvertently exposes sensitive network configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with clear text credentials for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks, including SSID names and network passwords. This information enables attackers to establish unauthorized connections to the affected networks and potentially gain access to the entire network infrastructure. The exposure occurs through a redirect mechanism that bypasses normal authentication checks, effectively creating a backdoor that remains accessible even when users are away from home. This situation directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers can systematically identify and exploit these unauthenticated endpoints.
The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks and improper access control implementation, with the affected device failing to properly validate user credentials before granting access to sensitive configuration pages. This weakness allows for remote information disclosure that could lead to complete network compromise, as the exposed credentials enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including network infiltration, data exfiltration, and further reconnaissance. The fact that this vulnerability affects a consumer-grade router with remote access capabilities makes it particularly dangerous, as it provides persistent access to home and small office networks that may contain sensitive personal or business information. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.