CVE-2019-20696 in WAC505
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by disclosure of sensitive information. This affects WAC505 before V5.6.8.3 and WAC510 before V5.6.8.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20696 represents a sensitive information disclosure issue affecting specific NETGEAR wireless access point models including the WAC505 and WAC510. This weakness allows unauthorized actors to potentially access confidential data that should remain protected within the device's operational environment. The affected versions prior to V5.6.8.3 demonstrate a critical flaw in the device's information handling mechanisms, where sensitive system details may be exposed through improper access controls or inadequate data sanitization processes. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running firmware versions that have not been updated to the secure release V5.6.8.3, indicating that this is a known issue that was subsequently addressed by the vendor through firmware updates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes weaknesses related to exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. This classification indicates that the flaw enables information disclosure without proper authorization mechanisms, potentially exposing system configurations, network parameters, or other confidential operational details. The vulnerability may manifest through various attack vectors including direct network access or through improperly configured administrative interfaces that fail to adequately authenticate or authorize access requests. The affected devices likely contain sensitive data such as system credentials, network configuration parameters, or operational logs that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This type of information exposure can significantly compromise network security posture and provide attackers with valuable intelligence for further exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-20696 extends beyond simple data disclosure, as the exposed information can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the compromised network environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain insights into network topology, device configurations, and potentially access credentials that would enable lateral movement throughout the network infrastructure. The affected WAC505 and WAC510 models operate as wireless access points, making them critical components in network access control and wireless security. When these devices disclose sensitive information, they create opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities that could lead to privilege escalation or complete network compromise. The vulnerability's persistence in devices not updated to V5.6.8.3 suggests that organizations with legacy deployments may continue to face exposure risks, particularly in environments where firmware updates are not regularly implemented.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to V5.6.8.3 or later versions to address the information disclosure vulnerability. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit unauthorized access to affected devices, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular firmware maintenance and security patch management processes, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1068 which addresses local privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper network access controls and authentication mechanisms can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive device information, while regular security assessments should verify that devices maintain appropriate security configurations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the network environment.