CVE-2020-26907 in RBK852
Summary
by MITRE • 10/09/2020
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects RBK852 before 3.2.16.6, RBR850 before 3.2.16.6, and RBS850 before 3.2.16.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-26907 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting several NETGEAR router models including RBK852 RBR850 and RBS850 devices. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation within the affected firmware versions, specifically those prior to 3.2.16.6. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected devices, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure. The flaw exists in the web interface handling of user-supplied parameters, where malicious inputs are not properly sanitized before being processed by the underlying system commands. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities in software systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication credentials, making it accessible to anyone with network access to the affected devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the router's command execution environment, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors. The affected devices operate with elevated privileges, meaning that successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the network gateway. Network traffic passing through these vulnerable routers could be intercepted, modified, or redirected without detection. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual device compromise as these routers often serve as primary network gateways for residential and small business users. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create botnets, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or use the compromised devices as launching points for further network infiltration. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous in environments where these devices are exposed to untrusted networks or the internet.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for both individual users and enterprise networks that may be utilizing these affected NETGEAR devices. Organizations relying on these routers for network security may experience complete loss of control over their network infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruptions, or compliance violations. The vulnerability affects devices that are commonly deployed in residential gateways and small office environments, where network security is often underestimated. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by automated scanning tools, making large-scale attacks possible. The affected firmware versions indicate that this vulnerability has existed for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to develop and deploy exploits without detection. The impact on network availability and data integrity makes this a critical concern for organizations implementing zero-trust security models.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-26907 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions 3.2.16.6 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the command injection vulnerability. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of affected devices and monitor for suspicious network activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be applied by ensuring that only authorized personnel have physical or remote access to these devices. Regular network monitoring using intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while network access control lists should be configured to restrict access to administrative interfaces. Security assessments should include verification of firmware versions and patch status for all network devices. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based firewalls to protect these devices from external attacks, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing router compromise scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing proper network security controls to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure devices. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071.001 for application layer protocol.