CVE-2019-20686 in D6200
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects D6200 before 1.1.00.36, D7000 before 1.0.1.74, JR6150 before 1.0.1.18, PR2000 before 1.0.0.28, R6020 before 1.0.0.40, R6080 before 1.0.0.40, R6050 before 1.0.1.18, R6120 before 1.0.0.48, R6220 before 1.1.0.86, R6260 before 1.1.0.64, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.36, R6800 before 1.2.0.36, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.36, and WNR2020 before 1.1.0.62.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in NETGEAR wireless routers and networking equipment that exposes multiple device models to remote exploitation by unauthenticated attackers. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the device's web interface handling mechanisms, specifically affecting a wide range of consumer and small office networking devices including the D6200, D7000, JR6150, and various R-series routers. The affected firmware versions demonstrate a fundamental lack of bounds checking on user-supplied input data, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple device disruption, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected devices without requiring authentication credentials. This remote code execution capability enables adversaries to gain complete control over the affected networking equipment, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects devices across multiple product lines including the R6020, R6080, R6050, R6120, R6220, R6260, R6700v2, R6800, R6900v2, and WNR2020 models, indicating a widespread issue within NETGEAR's product portfolio. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through web-based attacks targeting the device's HTTP interface, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no physical access or prior authentication.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter usage, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute commands on the compromised device. The affected devices typically operate in residential and small office environments where network security is often inadequate, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access points. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for supply chain security, as compromised networking equipment can serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration attacks. Organizations and individuals using these affected devices face potential exposure to man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, and other network-based attacks that leverage the compromised router as a pivot point for further malicious activity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the buffer overflow condition, as the vendor has released patched versions for all affected models. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and consider disabling unnecessary web interface access to reduce attack surface. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their networks and implement proper network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of firmware security updates and proper input validation practices in embedded networking equipment, as outlined in industry security frameworks and best practices for device hardening.