CVE-2021-45613 in CBR40
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects CBR40 before 2.5.0.24, CBR750 before 4.6.3.6, D7000v2 before 1.0.0.74, LAX20 before 1.1.6.28, MK62 before 1.0.6.116, MR60 before 1.0.6.116, MS60 before 1.0.6.116, MR80 before 1.1.2.20, MS80 before 1.1.2.20, RAX15 before 1.0.3.96, RAX20 before 1.0.3.96, RAX200 before 1.0.4.120, RAX45 before 1.0.3.96, RAX50 before 1.0.3.96, RAX43 before 1.0.3.96, RAX40v2 before 1.0.3.96, RAX35v2 before 1.0.3.96, RAX75 before 1.0.4.120, RAX80 before 1.0.4.120, RBK752 before 3.2.17.12, RBR750 before 3.2.17.12, RBS750 before 3.2.17.12, RBK852 before 3.2.17.12, RBR850 before 3.2.17.12, RBS850 before 3.2.17.12, and XR1000 before 1.0.0.58.
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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 unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected devices. The vulnerability affects a wide range of consumer and small office networking equipment including routers, access points, and wireless bridges. According to CWE-77, this falls under the category of command injection vulnerabilities where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being passed to system commands, creating a pathway for malicious code execution. The affected devices span multiple product lines including CBR40, CBR750, D7000v2, and various RAX series routers, with specific version thresholds indicating the scope of impacted firmware releases.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation in the device's web interface or API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and inject system commands directly into vulnerable parameters. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to gain full administrative control over the affected devices, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malware, or use the devices as entry points for further network infiltration. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring valid credentials. From an ATT&CK perspective, this maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can leverage the compromised devices for command execution and potential lateral movement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures. Compromised routers can serve as persistent backdoors for attackers, enabling long-term access to corporate or residential networks. The vulnerability affects devices that typically operate in unsecured environments, making them prime targets for exploitation. Network administrators face significant challenges in identifying and patching affected devices, especially when dealing with legacy hardware that may not receive regular firmware updates. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to man-in-the-middle attacks, data exfiltration, and disruption of network services. Organizations with multiple affected devices must consider the potential for widespread compromise, particularly in environments where these devices are used as network gateways or access points.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of device compromise and monitor for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should disable unnecessary services and ports, particularly those related to web interfaces that may be vulnerable to injection attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of device firmware versions against known vulnerable releases. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command execution patterns or unusual traffic flows can help identify potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive standpoint, organizations should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious command injection attempts and maintain detailed inventory records of all network devices to ensure comprehensive patch management coverage.