CVE-2021-45524 in R8000
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
NETGEAR R8000 devices before 1.0.4.62 are affected by a buffer overflow by an authenticated user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45524 affects NETGEAR R8000 wireless routers running firmware versions prior to 1.0.4.62. This represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that can be exploited by authenticated attackers who have gained access to the device's administrative interface. The vulnerability resides within the router's web-based management interface, specifically in how it processes user input during configuration parameter handling. The flaw allows an attacker with valid credentials to craft malicious input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the affected device.
This buffer overflow vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, meaning that an adversary must first obtain valid administrative credentials to exploit this vulnerability. However, the impact remains severe as the exploitation could lead to complete device compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic security weakness in input validation mechanisms where the system fails to properly sanitize user-provided data before processing it within fixed-size buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as the affected NETGEAR R8000 routers serve as critical network infrastructure components in both enterprise and home environments. When exploited, the buffer overflow could enable attackers to gain persistent access to the network, potentially leading to data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, or the use of the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The authenticated nature of the attack means that organizations must ensure proper credential management and access controls are in place, as this vulnerability could be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access attempts become crucial defensive measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45524 primarily focus on firmware updates, with NETGEAR releasing version 1.0.4.62 to address this vulnerability. Organizations should immediately prioritize updating their NETGEAR R8000 devices to the patched firmware version. Additionally, implementing network access controls to restrict administrative access to these devices, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities can help reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly around input validation and buffer management, as outlined in the software security guidelines of the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and maintain updated inventories of their network devices to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.