CVE-2019-20707 in R7800
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects R7800 before 1.0.2.60 and XR500 before 2.3.2.32.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2024
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 specifically impacts R7800 routers running firmware versions prior to 1.0.2.60 and XR500 routers before version 2.3.2.32, exposing these devices to remote code execution capabilities that could compromise entire network infrastructures. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the web interface authentication system, where user-supplied parameters are not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying command execution mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic command injection weakness that aligns with CWE-77, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious HTTP requests that include command injection payloads within authenticated sessions, bypassing normal security controls. The vulnerability occurs when the device processes user input without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject operating system commands that execute with the privileges of the web server process, typically root or administrative privileges. This creates a pathway for attackers to gain full control over the affected devices and potentially escalate their access to other network resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security and infrastructure integrity. Network administrators who rely on these devices for core network operations face potential complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized network access. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must first establish a valid session, but once achieved, they can execute commands that may include installing backdoors, modifying firewall rules, or redirecting network traffic to malicious endpoints. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these devices often serve as primary network gateways.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise beyond establishing an authenticated session, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device administration credentials may be weak or compromised. The affected firmware versions represent common consumer and small business networking equipment that often remains unpatched due to user neglect or lack of awareness about the security risks. Organizations should prioritize immediate firmware updates to address this vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify command injection patterns and establish baseline network behavior to detect anomalous command execution activities that may indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.