CVE-2019-20681 in D6200
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by authentication bypass. This affects D6200 before 1.1.00.34, D7000 before 1.0.1.68, JR6150 before 1.0.1.18, PR2000 before 1.0.0.28, R6050 before 1.0.1.18, R6120 before 1.0.0.46, R6220 before 1.1.0.80, R6260 before 1.1.0.64, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.36, R6800 before 1.2.0.36, and R6900v2 before 1.2.0.36.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20681 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR router models within their consumer and small office networking product lines. This issue stems from insufficient validation of authentication credentials during the web interface access process, allowing unauthorized users to bypass the standard login mechanism entirely. The affected devices include various models from the D6200, D7000, JR6150, PR2000, R6050, R6120, R6220, R6260, R6700v2, R6800, and R6900v2 series, all of which share a common software implementation that fails to properly enforce access controls. The vulnerability specifically impacts firmware versions prior to the listed secure releases, indicating that the flaw existed in the base code implementation across these device families.
The technical root cause of this authentication bypass vulnerability lies in the improper handling of session management and credential validation within the web administration interface of these routers. When users attempt to access the device configuration interface, the system should verify legitimate credentials before granting access to administrative functions. However, the flawed implementation allows attackers to access the administrative panel without providing valid authentication details, effectively creating a backdoor into the device's configuration environment. This weakness can be attributed to inadequate input validation and insufficient session token verification mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software implementations, specifically focusing on authentication bypass scenarios where the system fails to properly verify user credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected routers. Once authenticated, malicious actors can modify network configurations, change administrator passwords, disable security features, and potentially redirect network traffic through the compromised device. This level of access enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, and create unauthorized access points that could be used for further network infiltration. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for home and small office networks where these devices are commonly deployed, as the compromised routers can serve as entry points for broader network attacks. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for persistence and privilege escalation within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the authentication bypass flaw in affected device models. Network administrators should prioritize updating all impacted routers to the latest firmware versions provided by the manufacturer, ensuring that the updated firmware contains proper authentication mechanisms and session management controls. Additional security measures include disabling remote administration features when not actively needed, implementing strong and unique administrator passwords, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of a compromised router and establish network monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication implementation and the need for regular security updates in network infrastructure devices, particularly those with web-based management interfaces that are accessible from external networks.