CVE-2019-20647 in RAX40
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR RAX40 devices before 1.0.3.64 are affected by denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20647 affects NETGEAR RAX40 wireless routers and access points operating on firmware versions prior to 1.0.3.64. This device belongs to NETGEAR's RAX series, which are designed as high-performance Wi-Fi 6 routers targeting both home and small office environments. The affected devices are susceptible to a denial of service condition that can disrupt network connectivity and render the affected networking equipment temporarily inoperable. This vulnerability specifically impacts the device's ability to maintain stable network operations and can result in complete service interruption for connected devices.
The technical flaw manifests as a denial of service condition within the device's firmware implementation. While the exact technical mechanism is not fully detailed in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities in networking equipment typically stem from improper input validation, buffer overflows, or unhandled error conditions within the device's network processing stack. The vulnerability likely occurs during normal network operation when the device encounters malformed packets or specific network conditions that trigger an unexpected system state. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would fall under CWE-400: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, as it leads to resource exhaustion or system instability that prevents normal operation. The device's failure to properly handle incoming network traffic or internal processing conditions results in a complete service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to potentially affect business continuity and user productivity. When a critical networking device like a RAX40 router experiences denial of service, all devices connected to that network lose connectivity until the device is manually rebooted or the firmware is updated. This affects not only home users but also small office environments where network reliability is crucial for business operations. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous as malicious actors could exploit it to disrupt network services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, which specifically addresses techniques that cause devices to become unavailable through resource exhaustion or system instability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20647 focus primarily on firmware updates provided by NETGEAR. Users should immediately update their RAX40 devices to firmware version 1.0.3.64 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the denial of service condition. Network administrators should implement regular firmware update policies and monitor for vulnerable devices within their networks. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to isolate affected devices, implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and maintaining backup network infrastructure to ensure business continuity during remediation. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary network services and implementing proper network access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.