CVE-2021-38537 in D6200
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by stored XSS. This affects D6200 before 1.1.00.40, D7000 before 1.0.1.78, R6020 before 1.0.0.48, R6080 before 1.0.0.48, R6120 before 1.0.0.66, R6260 before 1.1.0.78, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.76, R6800 before 1.2.0.76, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.76, R6850 before 1.1.0.78, R7200 before 1.2.0.76, R7350 before 1.2.0.76, R7400 before 1.2.0.76, R7450 before 1.2.0.76, AC2100 before 1.2.0.76, AC2400 before 1.2.0.76, AC2600 before 1.2.0.76, and RAX40 before 1.0.3.62.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-38537 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR wireless routers and access points across various product lines. This security weakness resides in the web-based management interfaces of affected devices, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the device's storage and execute when other users access the administration panel. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices with firmware versions prior to the mentioned patch levels, creating a widespread risk across NETGEAR's consumer and small office networking portfolio. The stored XSS vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected network devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the web interface components of these networking devices. When users input data through web forms or configuration parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters before storing them in the device's database or configuration files. This allows malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when the affected interface is accessed by authenticated users. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the device's web server component that handles administrative requests, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges to exploit once the malicious content is injected. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications. The attack vector typically involves an attacker with access to the device's web interface or a victim who visits a malicious page containing the stored payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as compromised network devices can provide attackers with complete control over the affected network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify router configurations, redirect traffic, install malware, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that even after the initial injection, the malicious code continues to execute whenever any user accesses the affected interface, potentially affecting multiple administrators over time. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario for enterprise environments where multiple administrators may access the same device, as each access could serve as an execution point for the stored malicious payload. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web shells, and T1566.001, covering spearphishing through social engineering, as the attack could be delivered through various means including compromised web pages or malicious configuration changes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38537 require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the underlying stored XSS vulnerability in affected devices. Organizations should prioritize updating all impacted NETGEAR devices to their latest firmware versions, particularly those mentioned in the vulnerability description including various D6200, D7000, R6020, R6080, R6120, R6260, R6700v2, R6800, R6900v2, R6850, R7200, R7350, R7400, R7450, AC2100, AC2400, AC2600, and RAX40 models. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting administrative access to the device interfaces, implementing network segmentation, and monitoring for suspicious configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing proper input validation in network device management interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments of network infrastructure to detect similar vulnerabilities in other devices. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing of networked devices can help identify and remediate similar stored XSS vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.