CVE-2021-32122 in EX3700
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by CSRF. This affects EX3700 before 1.0.0.90, EX3800 before 1.0.0.90, EX6120 before 1.0.0.64, and EX6130 before 1.0.0.44.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-32122 represents a cross-site request forgery issue affecting multiple NETGEAR wireless routers and access points within the EX3700, EX3800, EX6120, and EX6130 device families. This authentication bypass flaw allows remote attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions on affected devices without requiring valid credentials. The vulnerability specifically impacts firmware versions prior to the mentioned thresholds, indicating that device owners who have not updated their systems remain at risk. The affected devices operate within home and small office networking environments where they serve as primary network gateways, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking persistent network access.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the origin of HTTP requests within the web-based administration interface of these devices. When users access the device management portal, the system fails to properly verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions rather than from malicious third-party websites or crafted web pages. This weakness allows attackers to construct malicious web pages that automatically submit administrative commands to the vulnerable devices when unsuspecting users browse to these sites or click on malicious links. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the device's web interface functionality, which is commonly used for configuration changes, firmware updates, and network management tasks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to modify critical network settings, change administrator passwords, disable security features, and potentially redirect network traffic. In network environments where these devices serve as the primary gateway, such compromise can lead to complete network infiltration and persistent access for attackers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects consumer-grade networking equipment that is often left unpatched due to user unawareness or lack of technical expertise. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish backdoors, monitor network traffic, or use the compromised devices as launching points for further attacks against other networked systems. The impact aligns with CWE-352, which classifies cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a serious web application security flaw that can result in unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the CSRF implementation issues. Network administrators should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest firmware versions that include proper request origin validation and anti-CSRF token mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions for networking equipment and highlights the need for robust web application security controls in consumer-grade devices. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious administrative traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations for IoT and networking equipment that often receive insufficient attention in enterprise security programs.