CVE-2021-45535 in RAX200
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects RAX200 before 1.0.3.106, RAX80 before 1.0.3.106, RAX75 before 1.0.3.106, RBK752 before 3.2.16.6, RBR750 before 3.2.16.6, RBS750 before 3.2.16.6, RBK852 before 3.2.16.6, RBR850 before 3.2.16.6, and RBS850 before 3.2.16.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR wireless routers and access points within the RAX and RBK/RBR/RBS series. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the web-based management interface, allowing authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands on the affected devices. The vulnerability specifically impacts firmware versions prior to the mentioned patches, creating a persistent security risk for network administrators who may not have applied the necessary updates.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the device's web interface components. When authenticated users submit malicious payloads through specific parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before processing them within the command execution context. This allows attackers who have gained access to legitimate user credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary system commands with the highest possible privileges available to the web interface user. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89, representing command injection and SQL injection patterns respectively, though the specific implementation here involves command execution rather than database queries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security infrastructure as it enables authenticated command execution on network devices that are typically considered to have restricted access. The affected devices operate as core networking components, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access points within networks. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify device configurations, redirect traffic, install backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive network information. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and home network environments where these devices serve as primary access points and network gateways.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first obtain valid authentication credentials for the device's web interface, which may be achieved through various means including credential reuse, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques. Once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the command injection flaw to execute arbitrary system commands, potentially leading to complete device compromise and network infiltration. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script execution and T1078 for valid accounts, as it leverages legitimate administrative access to escalate privileges and execute malicious commands. Network administrators should prioritize patching affected devices with the latest firmware releases, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in network device firmware development. The affected NETGEAR devices represent a significant portion of consumer and enterprise networking equipment, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a supply chain security perspective. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and implement layered security controls including network segmentation, regular firmware updates, and continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for robust authentication mechanisms and proper input sanitization in all network infrastructure components to prevent similar command injection attacks from compromising network security.