CVE-2021-38519 in R6250
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects R6250 before 1.0.4.36, R6300v2 before 1.0.4.36, R6400 before 1.0.1.50, R6400v2 before 1.0.2.66, R6700v3 before 1.0.2.66, R6700 before 1.0.2.8, R6900 before 1.0.2.8, R7000 before 1.0.9.88, R6900P before 1.3.2.132, R7100LG before 1.0.0.52, R7900 before 1.0.3.10, R8000 before 1.0.4.46, R7900P before 1.4.1.50, R8000P before 1.4.1.50, and RAX80 before 1.0.1.40.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in NETGEAR networking equipment that allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web management interface of these routers, specifically affecting a range of consumer and small office networking devices including various models of routers and wireless access points. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied input parameters that are directly passed to system commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users submit malicious input through web forms or API endpoints that interact with underlying system commands. The affected devices process these inputs without adequate filtering, allowing attackers to inject operating system commands that are then executed with the privileges of the web server process. This creates a significant attack surface where an authenticated user can leverage the vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to device functionality, potentially leading to complete device compromise. The vulnerability affects multiple device models across different generations, indicating a systemic issue in the firmware development practices of the affected NETGEAR products.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to network security as it allows attackers who have gained initial access through legitimate authentication to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the affected devices. The impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially enable attackers to modify device configurations, redirect network traffic, install malware, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacks on other network systems. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these devices may be used as network gateways, as it could provide attackers with persistent access to internal networks. The vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as a command injection technique that can be used for privilege escalation and lateral movement within a network environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the vulnerability, implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns. The affected devices should be configured with strong authentication mechanisms and access controls to limit the number of users with administrative privileges. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented controls and to identify any other potential vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure.