CVE-2019-20705 in D3600
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects D3600 before 1.0.0.76, D6000 before 1.0.0.76, and XR500 before 2.3.2.32.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in NETGEAR networking equipment that allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices. The vulnerability affects specific models including D3600, D6000, and XR500 routers, with versions prior to the specified firmware releases being susceptible to exploitation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface handling, where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-77 category, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as authenticated users can leverage this weakness to gain complete control over the affected networking equipment. Attackers can execute system commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to full device compromise, data exfiltration, network disruption, or even lateral movement within the compromised network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication, meaning that an attacker who has obtained valid credentials for the device can exploit this flaw without requiring additional privileges or complex attack vectors. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries use legitimate system tools to execute malicious commands.
Network administrators face significant operational risks when devices are running vulnerable firmware versions, as these routers often serve as gateways for entire network infrastructures. The compromised devices could be used as pivot points for further attacks, potentially enabling attackers to access internal network resources that would otherwise be protected by firewall rules and network segmentation. The vulnerability affects devices that may be deployed in residential, small office, or enterprise environments, making the potential impact widespread across different network configurations and security postures.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR, which address the input validation issues by implementing proper sanitization of user inputs before they are processed by the system. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised devices and consider monitoring for unusual command execution patterns or network traffic anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should enforce strong authentication practices, including multi-factor authentication where possible, and regularly audit device configurations to ensure that only necessary services are enabled. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and demonstrates how authentication bypasses can lead to complete system compromise when proper input validation is absent from web interfaces.