CVE-2018-21168 in D7000
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by disclosure of sensitive information. This affects D7000 before 1.0.1.52, D7800 before 1.0.1.31, D8500 before 1.0.3.36, JNR1010v2 before 1.1.0.46, JR6150 before 1.0.1.14, JWNR2010v5 before 1.1.0.46, PR2000 before 1.0.0.20, R6050 before 1.0.1.14, R6220 before 1.1.0.60, R6400 before 1.1.0.26, R6400v2 before 1.0.2.46, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.2, R6800 before 1.2.0.2, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.2, R7300DST before 1.0.0.56, R7500 before 1.0.0.112, R7500v2 before 1.0.3.24, R7800 before 1.0.2.36, R7900P before 1.1.4.6, R8000P before 1.1.4.6, R8300 before 1.0.2.104, R8500 before 1.0.2.104, R9000 before 1.0.2.52, WNDR3700v4 before 1.0.2.94, WNDR3700v5 before 1.1.0.50, WNDR4300 before 1.0.2.96, WNDR4300v2 before 1.0.0.52, WNDR4500v3 before 1.0.0.52, WNR1000v4 before 1.1.0.46, WNR2020 before 1.1.0.46, and WNR2050 before 1.1.0.46.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting numerous NETGEAR wireless routers and networking devices across multiple product lines. The issue stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the device firmware, specifically exposing credentials and configuration information that should remain protected. The affected devices span several generations of NETGEAR's consumer and enterprise networking equipment, including popular models such as the R6050, R6220, R6400, R6700v2, R6800, R6900v2, and various D-series and J-series routers. These devices operate under the assumption that certain system information should remain confidential, but due to inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, sensitive data becomes accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability allows attackers to extract authentication credentials, system configuration parameters, and potentially other confidential information that could be used to compromise the entire network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper exposure of sensitive system variables through web interfaces or API endpoints that are accessible without proper authentication. When legitimate users or attackers access certain administrative pages or services, the system fails to adequately filter or sanitize the output, resulting in the disclosure of internal configuration details. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and represents a classic example of insufficient output filtering that violates fundamental security principles. The flaw manifests across multiple device models, indicating a systemic issue within the firmware development process rather than isolated implementation errors, suggesting that the vulnerability likely originates from shared code components or common development practices across the affected product line.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with comprehensive insights into network infrastructure configurations that could facilitate subsequent attacks. Once an attacker gains access to the disclosed information, they can potentially escalate privileges, modify network settings, or establish persistent access points within the affected network. The exposure of administrative credentials allows for complete control over the affected devices, enabling attackers to modify firewall rules, change network configurations, or even redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home networks where these devices serve as primary gateways, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise entire network infrastructures. The widespread nature of affected devices across multiple product generations indicates that this vulnerability has been present for extended periods, potentially allowing for prolonged exploitation without detection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the root cause of information disclosure. Network administrators should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest firmware versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, as the company has released specific updates for each affected model. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns may help detect unauthorized access attempts. Security professionals should also consider conducting thorough network assessments to identify any devices that may have been compromised through prior exploitation of this vulnerability. The implementation of network access control lists and firewall rules can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security audits of network infrastructure should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior in network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing robust security practices across all network infrastructure components, as the exposure of administrative credentials can result in complete network compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both the immediate exposure and potential long-term impacts of such information disclosure flaws.