CVE-2021-45625 in XR300
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects XR300 before 1.0.3.68, R7000P before 1.3.3.140, and R6900P before 1.3.3.140.
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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 specific models including the XR300 router with firmware versions prior to 1.0.3.68, and the R7000P and R6900P routers with firmware versions before 1.3.3.1.40. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the device's web interface handling mechanisms, creating an attack surface where malicious commands can be injected and subsequently executed with the privileges of the affected device's system processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input in the device's web management interface. When an attacker submits specially crafted input parameters through web forms or API endpoints, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them. This allows attackers to inject operating system commands that are then executed by the device's underlying operating system. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection flaw under CWE-77, which specifically addresses situations where user-controllable input is passed directly to system commands without proper sanitization. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network infrastructure devices as it can provide attackers with complete control over the affected equipment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially catastrophic consequences for network security and stability. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain full administrative control of the affected devices, enabling them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malware, or use the compromised devices as entry points for further attacks within the network. The implications are particularly severe given that these are enterprise-grade networking devices that often serve as gateways between internal networks and external internet connections. Attackers could potentially use compromised devices as command and control centers for botnet activities, or as pivoting points to access other systems within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting network infrastructure devices to establish persistent access and execute malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must be implemented immediately through firmware updates provided by NETGEAR, as these releases contain the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws. Network administrators should prioritize updating all affected device models to their latest firmware versions, ensuring that the updated firmware includes proper input sanitization mechanisms and validation checks. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the potential impact of compromised devices, including firewall rules that restrict access to management interfaces from trusted networks only. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in network infrastructure devices, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and continuous monitoring of network equipment for similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of affected systems.