CVE-2021-45610 in D6220
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects D6220 before 1.0.0.66, D6400 before 1.0.0.100, D7000v2 before 1.0.0.66, D8500 before 1.0.3.58, DC112A before 1.0.0.52, DGN2200v4 before 1.0.0.118, EAX80 before 1.0.1.64, R6250 before 1.0.4.48, R7000 before 1.0.11.110, R7100LG before 1.0.0.72, R7900 before 1.0.4.30, R7960P before 1.4.1.64, R8000 before 1.0.4.62, RAX200 before 1.0.3.106, RS400 before 1.5.1.80, XR300 before 1.0.3.68, R6400v2 before 1.0.4.106, R7000P before 1.3.2.132, R8000P before 1.4.1.64, RAX20 before 1.0.2.82, RAX45 before 1.0.2.82, RAX80 before 1.0.3.106, R6700v3 before 1.0.4.106, R6900P before 1.3.2.132, R7900P before 1.4.1.64, RAX15 before 1.0.2.82, RAX50 before 1.0.2.82, and RAX75 before 1.0.3.106.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting multiple NETGEAR router models, specifically identified as CVE-2021-45610. The flaw exists within the web interface handling of these devices, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit a memory corruption issue through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking in the device's web server component, which processes HTTP requests without proper sanitization of user-supplied data. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The affected devices span various router series including D6220, D6400, D7000v2, D8500, and numerous other models across different generations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides potential for remote code execution and complete system compromise. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this buffer overflow to inject malicious code into the device's memory space, potentially gaining root access to the router's operating system. This could enable attackers to modify network configurations, redirect traffic through malicious proxies, install persistent backdoors, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking internal network resources. The vulnerability affects devices running firmware versions prior to the specified patches, indicating that the flaw existed in multiple firmware releases across different product lines. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could leverage techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control execution, and T1071 for application layer protocol usage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR, as the company has released patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in affected models. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected devices to their latest firmware versions, which typically include input validation improvements and memory management enhancements. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure, particularly for devices accessible from untrusted networks. Monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns or attempts to access vulnerable web interfaces can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems, particularly regarding input validation and memory management. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and implement proper patch management procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future firmware releases. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required for IoT and networking devices that remain accessible from external networks without proper authentication mechanisms.