CVE-2019-20645 in RAX40
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR RAX40 devices before 1.0.3.62 are affected by stored XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20654 affects NETGEAR RAX40 wireless routers and is classified as a stored cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the device's web interface. This vulnerability resides in the firmware version prior to 1.0.3.62 and represents a significant security risk for users who rely on these networking devices for their home or small office environments. The affected device is part of NETGEAR's RAX40 series, which are dual-band Wi-Fi 6 routers designed to provide high-speed wireless connectivity to multiple devices simultaneously.
The technical nature of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the web-based management interface of the RAX40 device. When users input data into specific fields of the web interface, particularly those related to configuration settings or network parameters, the device fails to properly sanitize this input before storing it in its database or configuration files. This allows an attacker who can access the device's web interface to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists across sessions. The stored payload executes whenever a user visits the affected pages, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability as it can affect any legitimate user who accesses the device's management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution and represents a critical threat to network security and user privacy. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to the device's configuration settings, modify network parameters, redirect traffic, or even establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious code remains active even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat that can persist until the device is properly updated or reconfigured. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects enterprise and home users who may not regularly update their networking equipment, leaving them exposed to ongoing attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to version 1.0.3.62 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as restricting access to the device's web interface to trusted IP addresses only, implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromise, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1046 for network service scanning. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments of their network infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other connected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly those managing network infrastructure where the consequences of exploitation can be severe.