CVE-2019-17049 in SRX5308
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR SRX5308 4.3.5-3 devices allow SQL Injection, as exploited in the wild in September 2019 to add a new user account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17049 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting NETGEAR SRX5308 firewall devices running firmware version 4.3.5-3. This security weakness resides within the device's web-based management interface and allows unauthorized remote attackers to execute malicious SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild during September 2019, with threat actors leveraging it to establish persistent backdoor access by creating new administrative user accounts on affected systems. The exploitation demonstrates the severe consequences of inadequate input validation in network infrastructure devices, particularly those handling authentication and administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the web interface components of the SRX5308 firewall. Attackers can manipulate input fields such as login credentials, configuration parameters, or other web form elements to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the backend database engine. This flaw falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities, where improper handling of user input allows attackers to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway typically involves crafting malicious payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and directly manipulate the database to insert new administrative accounts with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17049 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to achieve complete persistence within the network infrastructure. Once an attacker successfully injects SQL commands to add a new user account, they can maintain long-term access to the firewall without detection, potentially using this foothold to monitor network traffic, modify firewall rules, or pivot to other network segments. This represents a significant threat to network security posture as firewalls serve as critical security boundaries, and their compromise can lead to complete network infiltration. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17049 require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the SQL injection vulnerability in the SRX5308 devices. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting remote access to administrative functions, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping network security appliances updated and demonstrates how even seemingly minor input validation flaws can lead to complete system compromise, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and vulnerability management programs.