CVE-2019-20680 in D7000v2
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects D7000v2 before 1.0.0.53, R6220 before 1.1.0.80, R6260 before 1.1.0.64, R6700 before 1.0.2.6, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.36, R6800 before 1.2.0.36, R6900 before 1.0.2.4, R6900P before 1.3.1.64, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.36, R7000 before 1.0.9.60, R7000P before 1.3.1.64, R7800 before 1.0.2.60, R7900 before 1.0.3.8, R7900P before 1.4.1.30, R8000 before 1.0.4.46, R8000P before 1.4.1.30, R8300 before 1.0.2.128, R8500 before 1.0.2.128, R8900 before 1.0.4.12, R9000 before 1.0.4.12, and XR500 before 2.3.2.32.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in NETGEAR networking equipment that allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the web interface of these routers, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications. The affected devices span multiple router models including various R-series and D-series models, indicating a widespread issue across NETGEAR's product portfolio that affects both consumer and small business networking equipment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with specific web-based management interfaces or API endpoints that process user input without proper validation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets executed as system commands, potentially allowing full device compromise, data exfiltration, or network infiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication access, which is often readily available through default credentials or previously compromised accounts. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and bypasses, where adversaries use valid accounts to access systems and then escalate privileges through command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise to potentially enable broader network attacks. Once an attacker gains command execution capability, they can modify router configurations, redirect traffic, establish backdoors, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other network resources. The affected firmware versions indicate that this vulnerability has persisted across multiple generations of NETGEAR routers, suggesting either poor code quality or inadequate security review processes during development. Organizations relying on these devices for network infrastructure are particularly vulnerable since routers often serve as central points of control and traffic routing within networks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the command injection vulnerability, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of device compromise. Network administrators should also enforce strong authentication practices, disable unnecessary services, and monitor network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and secure coding practices, particularly in network device management interfaces where authentication is required. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual command execution patterns and ensure that default credentials are changed immediately upon device deployment. Regular security audits of network infrastructure and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network devices that may be susceptible to command injection attacks.