CVE-2018-21140 in D3600
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by incorrect configuration of security settings. This affects D3600 before 1.0.0.76 and D6000 before 1.0.0.76.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21140 represents a critical misconfiguration issue affecting specific NETGEAR D3600 and D6000 router models. This flaw stems from inadequate security settings implementation during the device manufacturing and deployment phases, creating persistent weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors. The affected firmware versions prior to 1.0.0.76 indicate that this issue has existed for several years without proper remediation, leaving numerous network endpoints vulnerable to various attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically targets the configuration management processes within these networking devices, which serve as primary gateways for household and small office networks. These routers typically handle sensitive network traffic and user data, making their security configuration paramount to overall network integrity. The misconfigured security settings likely encompass multiple aspects including but not limited to authentication mechanisms, access controls, encryption protocols, and administrative interface configurations. Such flaws represent a fundamental breach in the security architecture of these devices, as they fail to implement proper default security measures that should be inherent to all networking equipment. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, as these routers often serve as the primary connection point for multiple devices within residential and small business environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, and CWE-732, which deals with incorrect permissions for critical resources. The flaw essentially creates a situation where unauthorized users or attackers can gain access to network management functions without proper authentication, potentially allowing for complete network takeover. This misconfiguration likely involves default administrative credentials that remain unchanged, weak encryption implementations, or improperly configured firewall rules that fail to adequately protect the device from external threats. The vulnerability operates at the network infrastructure level, affecting the foundational security controls that should be automatically implemented by device manufacturers. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially modify router configurations, redirect network traffic, intercept communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the network environment. The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that these are consumer-grade routers that are typically not regularly updated or monitored for security patches, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active for extended periods. The specific firmware versions mentioned indicate that this issue was not addressed in the affected releases, suggesting either inadequate quality assurance processes or delayed security response from the vendor.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-21140 follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1072, which involves software deployment to establish persistence or maintain access within a network environment. Network administrators and security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape assessment, particularly in environments where legacy networking equipment remains in use. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple firmware versions suggests a systemic issue in the security development lifecycle of these devices, potentially indicating poor security testing practices or inadequate threat modeling during the product development phase. Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, particularly when these devices are deployed in critical environments. The security implications extend to potential data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, and network reconnaissance activities that could be conducted through compromised router configurations. Remediation efforts should focus on firmware updates to versions 1.0.0.76 or later, though many users may never update these devices due to their consumer nature and lack of automatic update mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure default configurations and proper security hardening practices that should be implemented at the device level rather than relying on end-user configuration changes. This represents a significant gap in the security posture of consumer networking equipment and underscores the need for more robust security standards and practices within the networking industry.