CVE-2018-21160 in ReadyNAS
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR ReadyNAS devices before 6.9.3 are affected by CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21160 affects NETGEAR ReadyNAS storage devices running firmware versions prior to 6.9.3, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that compromises the security integrity of network-attached storage systems. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protections within the device's web-based management interface, allowing authenticated attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions through malicious web pages or crafted requests. The flaw specifically impacts devices that utilize the ReadyNAS operating system, which is commonly deployed in enterprise and small business environments for centralized data storage and file sharing services. The vulnerability exists because the web interface fails to validate the origin of requests or implement token-based protection mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized command execution.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the device's configuration settings, modify user accounts, adjust network parameters, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the storage environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the ReadyNAS management interface without the user's knowledge or consent. This exploitation typically requires the victim to be logged into the device's web interface, as the attack leverages the existing session and authentication context. The vulnerability affects the device's administrative functions and can be particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive data is stored and managed through these storage appliances.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete compromise of the storage infrastructure and potential data exfiltration or corruption. Organizations relying on ReadyNAS devices for critical data storage operations face significant risk of unauthorized access to their file systems, potentially resulting in service disruption, data loss, or compliance violations. The vulnerability affects devices that are often deployed in unsecured network environments or accessible from external networks, increasing the attack surface and exploitation probability. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential harvesting through social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-21160 primarily involve immediate firmware updates to version 6.9.3 or later, which addresses the CSRF protection deficiencies through proper token validation and request origin verification mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting access to the device's management interface through firewall rules, implementing network segmentation, and ensuring that administrative interfaces are not accessible from untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and monitoring of device access logs should be conducted to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing network access control policies that limit who can access critical storage infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for protecting network-attached storage systems from common web application vulnerabilities.