CVE-2018-21123 in WC7500
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects WC7500 before 6.5.3.9, WC7520 before 6.5.3.9, WC7600v1 before 6.5.3.9, and WC7600v2 before 6.5.3.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in NETGEAR wireless access point devices that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability affects specific models including WC7500, WC7520, WC7600v1, and WC7600v2, all prior to firmware versions 6.5.3.9. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the device's web interface and management protocols, creating an exploitable path for remote code execution without requiring authentication credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection. The affected devices operate with default administrative privileges, amplifying the impact of this vulnerability significantly.
The technical implementation of this command injection flaw occurs through manipulation of input parameters in the device's web administration interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that get interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system of the affected devices. This typically involves exploiting form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints that do not properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected devices, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, install malicious firmware, redirect traffic, or use the devices as entry points for further network infiltration. The lack of authentication requirements means that any attacker with network access can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in public or unsecured network environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual device compromise, as these wireless access points often serve as critical network infrastructure components. When compromised, these devices can be used to create persistent backdoors, facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks, or serve as pivot points for attacking internal network resources. The vulnerability affects enterprise and enterprise-grade wireless networks where these devices are commonly deployed, potentially leading to widespread network disruption, data breaches, or unauthorized access to sensitive corporate information. Organizations using these vulnerable devices face significant risk of lateral movement attacks, as compromised access points can provide attackers with privileged network access to connected devices and services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to versions 6.5.3.9 or later, which contain patches addressing the command injection flaw. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, disable unnecessary services, and monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation attempts. Additional security measures include implementing network access control lists, disabling remote management interfaces where possible, and conducting thorough network audits to identify all affected devices. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious command execution patterns and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of compromised devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping network infrastructure firmware updated and maintaining comprehensive inventory management of all connected devices.