CVE-2018-21136 in D3600
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by disclosure of sensitive information. This affects D3600 before 1.0.0.76 and D6000 before 1.0.0.76.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21136 represents a sensitive data disclosure issue affecting specific NETGEAR D3600 and D6000 router models. This weakness allows unauthorized parties to access confidential information that should remain protected within the device's operational environment. The affected firmware versions demonstrate a critical flaw in the device's information handling mechanisms, potentially exposing system details that could be leveraged for further attacks or system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and information protection measures within the router's firmware implementation. The flaw manifests as an improper restriction of information access, which aligns with CWE-200 - "Information Exposure" and potentially CWE-284 - "Improper Access Control" depending on the specific implementation details. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain sensitive data without proper authentication or authorization, undermining the device's security posture and potentially exposing network configuration details, user credentials, or system identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed data could enable attackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks against the affected network infrastructure. Network reconnaissance becomes significantly easier when attackers can obtain device-specific information, firmware versions, and potentially administrative credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and could facilitate subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or even complete device compromise. The affected models D3600 and D6000 represent consumer and small office network devices that often serve as primary gateways for network access, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking to establish persistent access or conduct broader network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions that address the information disclosure vulnerability, as recommended by NETGEAR's security advisories. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to query sensitive device information. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and proper access control implementation within network infrastructure devices. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of device compromise, while also ensuring that all network equipment receives regular security updates and vulnerability assessments. This case highlights the critical need for robust information protection mechanisms within embedded systems and network devices, as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for information security controls.
The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where sensitive system information is exposed without proper authorization controls. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082 - "System Information Discovery" and T1005 - "Data from Local System" when exploited by adversaries. Proper implementation of access controls and information classification would have prevented unauthorized disclosure of device-specific information. The affected devices should be treated as compromised until confirmed patched, and network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all network infrastructure devices to identify similar information disclosure weaknesses that could be exploited in similar ways.