CVE-2019-20638 in MR1100
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR MR1100 devices before 12.06.08.00 are affected by disclosure of administrative credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20688 affects NETGEAR MR1100 wireless routers and is classified as a credential disclosure flaw that exposes administrative login information. This issue impacts devices running firmware versions prior to 12.06.08.00, making them susceptible to unauthorized access through the exposure of administrative credentials. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness that directly compromises the integrity and confidentiality of network infrastructure devices.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of administrative credentials within the device firmware, where authentication information is stored or transmitted in an insecure manner. This allows attackers to obtain administrative access to the router without requiring legitimate authentication. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-259 as a weakness involving the use of hard-coded credentials, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement and persistence. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor mechanism that bypasses normal authentication protocols, enabling unauthorized users to gain full administrative control over the affected devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to completely compromise the network security posture of organizations using affected NETGEAR MR1100 devices. Once administrative access is obtained, attackers can modify network configurations, implement malicious settings, monitor network traffic, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This creates a potential for data exfiltration, network disruption, and further lateral movement attacks against other connected systems. The vulnerability affects both enterprise and small business networks, as these devices are commonly deployed in residential and commercial environments where they serve as primary network gateways.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 12.06.08.00 or later, which contain patches addressing the credential disclosure issue. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices, regularly audit device configurations, and monitor for unauthorized access attempts. Additional security measures include changing default administrative credentials, disabling unnecessary services, and implementing network access controls. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices, as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-121 and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements for secure device management and access control.