CVE-2021-38514 in D3600
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by authentication bypass. This affects D3600 before 1.0.0.72, D6000 before 1.0.0.72, D6100 before 1.0.0.63, D6200 before 1.1.00.34, D6220 before 1.0.0.48, D6400 before 1.0.0.86, D7000 before 1.0.1.70, D7000v2 before 1.0.0.52, D7800 before 1.0.1.56, D8500 before 1.0.3.44, DC112A before 1.0.0.42, DGN2200v4 before 1.0.0.108, DGND2200Bv4 before 1.0.0.108, EX2700 before 1.0.1.48, EX3700 before 1.0.0.76, EX3800 before 1.0.0.76, EX6000 before 1.0.0.38, EX6100 before 1.0.2.24, EX6100v2 before 1.0.1.76, EX6120 before 1.0.0.42, EX6130 before 1.0.0.28, EX6150v1 before 1.0.0.42, EX6150v2 before 1.0.1.76, EX6200 before 1.0.3.88, EX6200v2 before 1.0.1.72, EX6400 before 1.0.2.136, EX7000 before 1.0.0.66, EX7300 before 1.0.2.136, EX8000 before 1.0.1.180, RBK50 before 2.1.4.10, RBR50 before 2.1.4.10, RBS50 before 2.1.4.10, RBK40 before 2.1.4.10, RBR40 before 2.1.4.10, RBS40 before 2.1.4.10, RBW30 before 2.2.1.204, PR2000 before 1.0.0.28, R6020 before 1.0.0.38, R6080 before 1.0.0.38, R6050 before 1.0.1.18, JR6150 before 1.0.1.18, R6120 before 1.0.0.46, R6220 before 1.1.0.86, R6250 before 1.0.4.34, R6300v2 before 1.0.4.32, R6400 before 1.0.1.44, R6400v2 before 1.0.2.62, R6700 before 1.0.1.48, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.36, R6800 before 1.2.0.36, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.36, R6900 before 1.0.1.48, R7000 before 1.0.9.34, R6900P before 1.3.1.64, R7000P before 1.3.1.64, R7100LG before 1.0.0.48, R7300DST before 1.0.0.70, R7500v2 before 1.0.3.38, R7800 before 1.0.2.52, R7900 before 1.0.3.8, R8000 before 1.0.4.28, R7900P before 1.4.1.30, R8000P before 1.4.1.30, R8300 before 1.0.2.128, R8500 before 1.0.2.128, R9000 before 1.0.3.10, RBS40V before 2.2.0.58, RBK50V before 2.2.0.58, WN2000RPTv3 before 1.0.1.32, WN2500RPv2 before 1.0.1.54, WN3000RPv3 before 1.0.2.78, WN3100RPv2 before 1.0.0.66, WNDR3400v3 before 1.0.1.22, WNDR3700v4 before 1.0.2.102, WNDR4300v1 before 1.0.2.104, WNDR4300v2 before 1.0.0.56, WNDR4500v3 before 1.0.0.56, WNR2000v5 (R2000) before 1.0.0.66, WNR2020 before 1.1.0.62, WNR2050 before 1.1.0.62, WNR3500Lv2 before 1.2.0.62, and XR500 before 2.3.2.22.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
This authentication bypass vulnerability in NETGEAR devices represents a critical security flaw that allows unauthorized access to network equipment without proper credentials. The vulnerability affects a wide range of NETGEAR routers and wireless access points across multiple product lines, including both consumer and enterprise grade devices. The affected firmware versions span numerous models from D-series to R-series routers, indicating a systemic issue rather than isolated product-specific problems. This authentication bypass occurs at the device level where the system fails to properly validate user credentials during the login process, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative access to network configurations and device management interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to stem from improper authentication handling within the web interface or management protocols of these devices. According to CWE classification, this issue would likely fall under CWE-287 which deals with improper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass the standard authentication process and directly access administrative functions, which could enable them to modify network settings, change passwords, install malicious firmware, or monitor network traffic. This type of flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the device's security architecture, as it undermines the core principle of access control that should protect sensitive administrative functions from unauthorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual device compromise, as it affects entire network infrastructures that rely on these devices for connectivity and security. Network administrators who are unaware of the vulnerability may inadvertently expose their networks to unauthorized access, potentially leading to complete network takeover. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, redirect network traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. The wide range of affected devices means that organizations with multiple NETGEAR products could face cascading security failures, where compromising one device provides access to other network segments. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where these devices often serve as the primary gateway between internal networks and external internet access, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking lateral movement within networks.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR, as the company has released patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise, disable unnecessary services and remote management features, and monitor network traffic for suspicious activity. Additional protective measures include enforcing strong authentication practices, implementing network access controls, and regularly auditing device configurations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and initial access through network devices. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts and anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The widespread nature of affected devices underscores the importance of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that can quickly identify and remediate similar issues across large device inventories.