CVE-2018-21129 in WAC505
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by disclosure of sensitive information. This affects WAC505 before 5.0.0.17 and WAC510 before 5.0.0.17.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21129 represents a sensitive information disclosure flaw affecting specific NETGEAR wireless access point models including the WAC505 and WAC510. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication credentials and system information within the device firmware, creating potential exposure of confidential data to unauthorized parties. The affected versions prior to 5.0.0.17 contain a design flaw that allows attackers to extract sensitive information through unauthenticated network requests, compromising the security posture of deployed networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within the web interface of these wireless access points. When certain API endpoints or configuration pages are accessed without authentication, the devices inadvertently expose system-level information including but not limited to administrative credentials, network configuration parameters, and device identification details. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard network reconnaissance techniques, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privileges to exploit. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a critical weakness in the authentication and authorization framework of these network devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed credentials and configuration data can enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected wireless access points. Once compromised, these devices can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access, monitor network traffic, or launch further attacks against connected systems. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and small business networks where these devices are commonly deployed as wireless infrastructure components, potentially enabling attackers to disrupt network services or compromise sensitive corporate data. This weakness creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks and can facilitate advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-21129 require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the underlying information disclosure vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected WAC505 and WAC510 devices to firmware versions 5.0.0.17 or later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent unauthorized information disclosure. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict access to device management interfaces, and regular security assessments to identify other vulnerable endpoints. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat and the need for comprehensive defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure that all network infrastructure components remain protected against similar information disclosure threats.