CVE-2018-21122 in GS110EMX
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by denial of service. This affects GS110EMX before 1.0.0.9, GS810EMX before 1.0.0.5, XS512EM before 1.0.0.6, and XS724EM before 1.0.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2024
This vulnerability affects multiple NETGEAR network switch models including the GS110EMX, GS810EMX, XS512EM, and XS724EM devices. The issue represents a denial of service condition that can be exploited to disrupt network operations and compromise system availability. These affected models operate with firmware versions prior to the specified patches, making them susceptible to unauthorized disruption of network services. The vulnerability impacts network infrastructure devices that are commonly deployed in enterprise and small office environments where reliable network connectivity is critical for business operations.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient input validation mechanism within the device's firmware implementation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending malformed or specially crafted network packets to the affected switches, causing the device to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This type of vulnerability typically stems from improper handling of network traffic or buffer management issues within the switch's network processing components. The flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to trigger a denial of service condition without requiring administrative privileges or prior access to the device. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses improper handling of input that can lead to resource exhaustion or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to potentially affect business continuity and operational efficiency. When affected switches experience denial of service conditions, network traffic flows are interrupted, causing service degradation or complete network outages depending on the switch's role within the network topology. Organizations relying on these switches for critical network infrastructure may face significant operational challenges, including loss of connectivity for connected devices, disruption of business applications, and potential financial losses from downtime. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where these switches serve as core network components in data center or enterprise network deployments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to address the identified vulnerability in all affected NETGEAR switch models. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to limit potential exploitation vectors. Implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous traffic patterns or device behavior may help identify exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network access controls to restrict direct access to network switches from untrusted networks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Organizations should establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all network devices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under network service disruption tactics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network security controls to prevent unauthorized access and exploitation of network infrastructure components.