CVE-2019-20676 in FS728TLP
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by lack of access control at the function level. This affects FS728TLP before 1.0.1.26, GS105Ev2 before 1.6.0.4, GS105PE before 1.6.0.4, GS108Ev3 before 2.06.08, GS108PEv3 before 2.06.08, GS110EMX before 1.0.1.4, GS116Ev2 before 2.6.0.35, GS408EPP before 1.0.0.15, GS724TPv2 before 1.1.1.29, GS808E before 1.7.0.7, GS810EMX before 1.7.1.1, GS908E before 1.7.0.3, GSS108E before 1.6.0.4, GSS108EPP before 1.0.0.15, GSS116E before 1.6.0.9, JGS516PE before 2.6.0.35, JGS524Ev2 before 2.6.0.35, JGS524PE before 2.6.0.35, XS512EM before 1.0.1.1, XS708Ev2 before 1.6.0.23, XS716E before 1.6.0.23, and XS724EM before 1.0.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical access control flaw in NETGEAR network switching equipment that allows unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and access administrative functions. The issue stems from insufficient function-level access controls within the device firmware, enabling attackers to exploit this weakness without proper credentials. The vulnerability affects a broad range of managed switches including the FS728TLP, GS105Ev2, GS105PE, GS108Ev3, GS108PEv3, GS110EMX, GS116Ev2, GS408EPP, GS724TPv2, GS808E, GS810EMX, GS908E, GSS108E, GSS108EPP, GSS116E, JGS516PE, JGS524Ev2, JGS524PE, XS512EM, XS708Ev2, XS716E, and XS724EM models. The affected firmware versions indicate that this weakness has persisted across multiple generations of these network devices, suggesting a fundamental architectural flaw in the authentication implementation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a significant security gap that undermines the integrity of network infrastructure devices. The lack of proper access control at the function level creates a pathway for attackers to perform administrative operations that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical impact of this vulnerability enables an attacker to gain unauthorized access to network switching functions that control device configuration, monitoring, and management capabilities. Without proper authentication checks, malicious actors can manipulate network settings, access sensitive device information, and potentially disrupt network operations. This flaw allows for privilege escalation attacks where unauthenticated users can assume administrative roles and execute commands that modify network behavior, including changing VLAN configurations, modifying port settings, and accessing network traffic monitoring capabilities. The operational implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access, as these switches often serve as critical network infrastructure components that control traffic flow between network segments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially create network segmentation bypasses, establish backdoor access points, or redirect network traffic to compromise connected systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models suggests that the underlying access control implementation was flawed across the entire product line, indicating a systemic security issue rather than an isolated incident.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given that these devices typically operate within enterprise network environments where they control critical infrastructure connectivity. Network switches are often considered privileged network devices that require strict access controls, and the absence of proper function-level access control creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for lateral movement within networks. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially gain persistent access to network infrastructure, making it a valuable target for advanced persistent threat actors. The affected devices may be deployed in critical network segments where unauthorized access could result in significant operational disruption or security breaches. From an operational perspective, network administrators may not immediately detect unauthorized access attempts since the devices may not log such activities or may not provide adequate audit trails for detecting unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's existence across multiple firmware versions indicates that NETGEAR may have failed to implement proper access control mechanisms in their network device development lifecycle, potentially violating security best practices outlined in frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege, where administrative functions are not properly restricted to authorized users, creating a persistent risk that could be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the access control weakness, network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and enhanced monitoring of network switch management interfaces. Network administrators should also review and strengthen their overall network security posture, including implementing proper access controls for network management interfaces and establishing robust audit trails for device configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure development practices and proper access control implementation in network infrastructure devices, emphasizing the need for security testing during the development lifecycle and regular security assessments of network equipment. Organizations should consider implementing network access control lists, disabling unnecessary management interfaces, and establishing secure remote access protocols to reduce the attack surface for these devices. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized configuration changes that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The affected devices should be treated as high-risk assets requiring immediate remediation, and organizations should verify that the firmware updates have been properly applied and validated to ensure the access control mechanisms are functioning correctly. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date network infrastructure firmware and implementing comprehensive network security controls to protect against unauthorized access to critical network devices.