CVE-2021-45590 in RBK752
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45590 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR router models within the RBK and RBR series. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection weaknesses in software systems. The flaw allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices, creating a significant security risk for network infrastructure. The affected models include RBK752, RBR750, RBS750, RBK852, RBR850, and RBS850, all prior to firmware version 3.2.16.6, indicating a widespread impact across several router generations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface processing mechanisms, allowing maliciously crafted inputs to be interpreted and executed as system commands rather than being treated as simple data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as authenticated attackers can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over affected network devices. This command injection vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with the privileges of the web server process, potentially allowing them to modify device configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistence mechanisms within the network infrastructure. The attack vector requires only authentication to the device's web interface, which significantly reduces the attack surface and makes exploitation more feasible. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the command line interface. The affected devices operate in enterprise and residential network environments where they serve as critical gateways, making the potential impact on network security and data integrity substantial.
Network administrators and security professionals must prioritize immediate remediation of affected devices through firmware updates provided by NETGEAR. The vendor has released firmware versions 3.2.16.6 and later that address this vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize their remediation based on risk assessment. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in network device firmware development, particularly in handling user inputs through web interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing network detection and response capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts, as the command injection could be used to establish backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive network information from within the device's operational environment.