CVE-2020-11781 in D7800
Summary
by MITRE
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by stored XSS. This affects D7800 before 1.0.1.56, R7500v2 before 1.0.3.46, R7800 before 1.0.2.68, R8900 before 1.0.4.28, R9000 before 1.0.4.28, RAX120 before 1.0.0.78, RBR50 before 2.3.5.30, RBS50 before 2.3.5.30, RBK50 before 2.3.5.30, XR500 before 2.3.2.56, and XR700 before 1.0.1.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-11781 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR router models and networking devices. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative interfaces of affected devices, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users. The affected product line includes popular models such as the D7800, R7500v2, R7800, R8900, R9000, RAX120, RBR50, RBS50, RBK50, XR500, and XR700 series, all of which share a common web interface implementation that fails to properly sanitize user input. The vulnerability specifically impacts firmware versions prior to the mentioned patches, indicating that device manufacturers released targeted updates to address this security flaw.
The technical nature of this stored XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web administration interfaces of these networking devices. When legitimate users interact with the device's web interface, particularly when submitting data through forms or configuration fields, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied content before storing it in the device's memory or database. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored on the device and subsequently executed whenever the affected interface is accessed by any user. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payload persists even after the initial attack vector has been closed, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may unknowingly execute the malicious code during routine maintenance or configuration activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for network security and device integrity. Network administrators who access the affected devices' web interfaces could inadvertently execute malicious code that could redirect their browser to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or even provide attackers with a persistent backdoor into the network. The vulnerability's presence in enterprise-grade networking equipment means that successful exploitation could lead to complete network compromise, as attackers could potentially modify device configurations, intercept network traffic, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks. This risk is compounded by the fact that many network administrators may not immediately update firmware, leaving devices vulnerable for extended periods. The vulnerability also affects the device's ability to maintain secure communications, as the compromised interface could be used to manipulate network settings or establish unauthorized connections.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The primary and most effective mitigation is to immediately update all affected NETGEAR devices to their latest firmware versions, which contain the necessary patches to prevent input sanitization failures. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and regularly auditing device configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic to device interfaces, as well as establishing robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure should include verification of device firmware versions and configuration settings to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.