CVE-2021-45598 in CBR40
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an authenticated user. This affects CBR40 before 2.5.0.24, CBR750 before 4.6.3.6, RBK852 before 3.2.17.12, RBR850 before 3.2.17.12, and RBS850 before 3.2.17.12.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in NETGEAR networking equipment that allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices. The vulnerability specifically impacts several router models including CBR40, CBR750, RBK852, RBR850, and RBS850, with affected versions prior to the specified firmware releases. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface or management protocols, creating an avenue for privilege escalation through authenticated command execution. Attackers who can establish a legitimate user session with the device can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized control over the affected hardware.
The technical implementation of this command injection vulnerability typically occurs through improper handling of user-supplied parameters in web forms or API endpoints that interface with underlying system commands. When authenticated users submit malicious input through web interfaces or HTTP requests, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before executing system commands, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which categorizes command injection flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application passes untrusted data to an operating system command. The attack surface is significantly expanded because the vulnerability requires only authentication, meaning that an attacker who has gained access to a legitimate user account can exploit this flaw without requiring additional privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe security risks to network infrastructure and connected systems. Once exploited, attackers can gain full administrative control over affected routers, potentially enabling them to modify routing tables, redirect traffic, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. The compromised devices can serve as launching points for broader network attacks, including lateral movement, data exfiltration, or disruption of network services. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise and residential networks that rely on NETGEAR equipment, as it provides attackers with direct access to critical network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond immediate device compromise to potentially affect all network communications passing through the vulnerable routers, creating a significant threat to network security and integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the command injection flaw in affected device models. Network administrators should prioritize updating all impacted devices to the latest firmware versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting user access to administrative functions. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect suspicious command execution patterns or unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation. The remediation process should include verifying the successful installation of patches and confirming that the vulnerability has been properly addressed through security testing and validation procedures.