CVE-2018-21133 in WAC505
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a stack-based buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects WAC505 before 5.0.0.17, WAC510 before 5.0.0.17, WAC720 before 5.0.0.17, WAC730 before 5.0.0.17, WAC740 before 5.0.0.17, and WND930 before 5.0.0.17.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in NETGEAR wireless access point devices that affects multiple models including WAC505, WAC510, WAC720, WAC730, WAC740, and WND930. The issue stems from inadequate input validation in the device's web interface handling mechanism, where an unauthenticated attacker can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a fixed-length buffer on the stack than it can accommodate, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to send specially crafted requests to the affected devices without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for network security. When the vulnerable device processes these malformed inputs, the buffer overflow condition causes the stack memory to be overwritten, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code into the device's memory space. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access and execute code remotely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the affected wireless access points and potentially use them as entry points for broader network infiltration. Once compromised, these devices can serve as persistent backdoors, facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks, or be used to redirect network traffic for malicious purposes. The affected models represent a significant portion of NETGEAR's wireless access point lineup, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise and small business networks that rely on these devices for wireless connectivity. Organizations using these vulnerable devices face potential exposure to credential theft, network disruption, and complete loss of wireless infrastructure control.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions 5.0.0.17 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to these devices from untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough network assessments to identify all affected devices and implement regular vulnerability scanning to prevent similar issues in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in embedded network devices, aligning with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-144 for secure network device configuration and management.