CVE-2019-20744 in WAC510
Summary
by MITRE
NETGEAR WAC510 devices before 5.0.10.2 are affected by disclosure of sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2024
The NETGEAR WAC510 wireless access point devices are vulnerable to a sensitive information disclosure flaw that affects firmware versions prior to 5.0.10.2. This vulnerability resides in the device's web administration interface and allows unauthorized users to access confidential system information that should remain protected. The flaw represents a significant security risk as it provides attackers with insights into the device's internal configuration and operational parameters that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the web interface. When legitimate users attempt to access certain administrative functions or retrieve system information, the device fails to properly authenticate or authorize these requests. This weakness enables an attacker to craft specific HTTP requests that bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive data including but not limited to device configuration parameters, network settings, and potentially authentication credentials. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on sensitive resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can gain comprehensive knowledge of the wireless network infrastructure, including SSID configurations, security protocols in use, and network topology information. This intelligence significantly reduces the attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts and enables attackers to craft more targeted attacks against the wireless network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where wireless access points serve as critical network components and where unauthorized access to configuration information could lead to complete network compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to version 5.0.10.2 or later, which contain the necessary security patches to address the access control weakness. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures including network segmentation, regular vulnerability assessments, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1592 (Gather Victim Network Information) as attackers can use the disclosed information to map network topology and identify potential attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures and restricting administrative access to only trusted networks to minimize the impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing proper access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized information disclosure.