CVE-2018-21130 in WAC505
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. 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-2018-21130 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting specific NETGEAR wireless access point models including the WAC505 and WAC510. This security weakness allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices, fundamentally compromising the device's integrity and potentially the entire network infrastructure it supports. The vulnerability specifically impacts firmware versions prior to 5.0.0.17, indicating that manufacturers released patches to address this issue. The affected models operate within enterprise and small office environments where wireless access points serve as critical network entry points, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these devices for network connectivity and security.
The technical implementation of this command injection vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface or API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious input parameters that are then interpreted and executed as system commands by the underlying operating system. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require valid credentials to exploit the vulnerability, significantly increasing the attack surface and making the exploitation more accessible to a broader range of threat actors. The attack vector typically involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the device's web management interface, where the input parameters are not properly sanitized before being passed to system execution functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to device configuration. An attacker who successfully exploits this command injection flaw can gain full control over the affected wireless access point, potentially enabling them to modify network settings, redirect traffic, install malicious firmware, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. This capability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique, which involves executing commands through various interfaces including web applications and command-line interfaces. The compromised device can then serve as a persistent backdoor or be used to facilitate lateral movement within the network infrastructure, potentially leading to complete network compromise. Organizations may also face regulatory and compliance violations if sensitive network data is accessed or modified through this vulnerability.
Network administrators should prioritize immediate remediation of affected devices by upgrading to firmware versions 5.0.0.17 or later, which contain patches addressing the command injection vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to isolate wireless access points from critical internal systems, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing proper input validation controls within network infrastructure devices. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the unauthenticated nature of the attack, even devices that are properly configured and secured may be vulnerable if they are running outdated firmware versions, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive firmware management policies across all network infrastructure components.