CVE-2019-20756 in EX7000
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by reflected XSS. This affects EX7000 before 1.0.0.64, EX6200 before 1.0.3.86, EX6150 before 1.0.0.38, EX6130 before 1.0.0.22, EX6120 before 1.0.0.40, EX6100 before 1.0.2.22, EX6000 before 1.0.0.30, EX3700 before 1.0.0.70, EX3800 before 1.0.0.70, R8300 before 1.0.2.94, R7300DST before 1.0.0.62, R7000P before 1.3.0.20, R6900P before 1.3.0.20, R6400 before 1.0.1.32, R6300v2 before 1.0.4.24, R8500 before 1.0.2.94, WNDR3400v3 before 1.0.1.18, and WN2500RPv2 before 1.0.1.52.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20756 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR networking devices across various product lines. This security weakness resides in the web-based management interfaces of affected routers and access points, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user's browser session. The vulnerability manifests when the device fails to properly sanitize user input parameters before reflecting them back to the browser, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed by unsuspecting users who visit compromised pages.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web interface components of these networking devices. When users interact with the management web pages, specific parameters passed through HTTP requests are not sufficiently sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when visited by an authenticated user, will execute within the user's browser context. The vulnerability affects a wide range of NETGEAR products including wireless routers, access points, and networking equipment, with specific firmware versions outlined in the CVE description representing the vulnerable releases. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability, which is a well-established category of web application security flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the network environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject content that could compromise the device's management interface. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attacks can be delivered through phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics where users are tricked into clicking malicious links. The attack vector is particularly concerning for network administrators who may unknowingly visit malicious links while troubleshooting or managing their networks, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized access to network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20756 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to the latest available versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and deploy web application firewalls or security monitoring solutions to detect suspicious traffic patterns. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of clicking untrusted links and the importance of verifying URLs before visiting them, especially when managing network devices. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it allows for JavaScript-based attacks, and T1566.001 for Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, since the vulnerability can be exploited through malicious email attachments or links. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on traffic to management interfaces of affected devices.