CVE-2021-45607 in R6400v2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a stack-based buffer overflow by an authenticated user. This affects R6400v2 before 1.0.4.118, R6700v3 before 1.0.4.118, R6900P before 1.3.3.140, R7000 before 1.0.11.126, R7000P before 1.3.3.140, RAX200 before 1.0.5.126, RAX75 before 1.0.5.126, and RAX80 before 1.0.5.126.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45607 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple NETGEAR router models, including the R6400v2, R6700v3, R6900P, R7000, R7000P, RAX200, RAX75, and RAX80 series. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices and can be exploited by an authenticated attacker who possesses valid credentials to access the device's administrative functions. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the device's firmware, specifically in how it handles user-supplied data within stack memory allocations. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability falls under stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The affected firmware versions indicate that manufacturers released updates to address this issue, with specific version thresholds such as 1.0.4.118 for R6400v2 and R6700v3, 1.3.3.140 for R6900P and R7000P, and 1.0.11.126 for R7000, demonstrating the widespread nature of this vulnerability across different router generations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain unauthorized control over network infrastructure. When exploited, the buffer overflow can lead to complete system takeover, allowing malicious actors to modify router configurations, redirect network traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the network environment. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected devices. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an adversary must first obtain valid login credentials, which could be acquired through credential stuffing, phishing attacks, or other social engineering techniques. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the network, potentially compromising the entire local network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models suggests that attackers could target various network segments depending on the specific router models deployed within an organization's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45607 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR, with administrators verifying that their devices have been updated to versions that address the buffer overflow issue. The recommended approach involves checking current firmware versions against the vendor's published security advisories and applying patches as soon as possible. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including disabling unnecessary services, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to industry best practices for network security, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework suggests that organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additional mitigations include configuring secure management interfaces with proper firewall rules, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and establishing robust network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.