CVE-2019-20646 in RAX40
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR RAX40 devices before 1.0.3.64 are affected by disclosure of administrative credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20646 affects NETGEAR RAX40 wireless routers and is categorized as a credential disclosure flaw that exposes administrative login information. This issue impacts devices running firmware versions prior to 1.0.3.64, representing a significant security weakness in network infrastructure equipment that could allow unauthorized access to critical network management functions. The vulnerability resides in the device's handling of administrative credentials, where sensitive information is improperly exposed or accessible without proper authentication mechanisms.
This technical flaw represents a failure in proper access control and credential management within the router's web interface and administrative subsystem. The disclosure occurs through mechanisms that do not adequately protect administrative credentials from unauthorized access, potentially allowing attackers to obtain login information through various means including direct access to configuration interfaces or through network reconnaissance techniques. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and demonstrates weaknesses in authentication and authorization controls that should prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with direct access to network management interfaces, enabling them to modify router configurations, implement malicious network changes, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. An attacker with administrative credentials could potentially redirect traffic, disable security features, create backdoors, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks against network communications. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home network environments where these routers serve as primary gateways, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures and enabling further lateral movement within targeted environments.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 1.0.3.64 or later, which would address the credential disclosure issue through proper access control implementation. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures including network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforce strong authentication practices, and monitor for suspicious access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure configuration management and proper credential handling, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces and maintain comprehensive audit trails for security incident response activities.