CVE-2021-45637 in affects R6260
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a stack-based buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects R6260 before 1.1.0.76, R6800 before 1.2.0.62, R6700v2 before 1.2.0.62, R6900v2 before 1.2.0.62, R7450 before 1.2.0.62, AC2100 before 1.2.0.62, AC2400 before 1.2.0.62, and AC2600 before 1.2.0.62.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45637 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow condition affecting multiple NETGEAR router models within their consumer and small office networking product lines. This flaw exists in firmware versions prior to specific security updates, with affected devices including R6260, R6800, R6700v2, R6900v2, R7450, AC2100, AC2400, and AC2600 models. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the device's web interface handling mechanisms, creating a condition where an attacker can manipulate memory allocation through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs when processing HTTP requests sent to the affected devices. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this condition by sending specially crafted payloads to the device's web management interface, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the device's operating environment. The flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied data is processed without adequate bounds checking, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory management practices where buffer boundaries are not properly enforced during input processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected devices. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain complete control over the affected router, potentially allowing them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This represents a significant risk to network security as routers serve as critical network gateways and often maintain administrative privileges. The vulnerability's accessibility through unauthenticated attacks means that any individual with network access can potentially exploit it, making the attack surface extremely broad and difficult to control. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for Local Privilege Escalation and T1566 for Phishing, as the attack vector involves exploiting a weakness in the device's authentication model to gain unauthorized access and control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates from NETGEAR to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking. Network administrators should prioritize updating all affected device models to their latest firmware versions, which contain patches specifically designed to prevent the overflow condition. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure, including restricting access to router management interfaces to trusted networks only. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly in network infrastructure devices where exploitation can have cascading effects throughout the entire network. Organizations should implement continuous monitoring for similar vulnerabilities and establish robust patch management processes to address security issues promptly and prevent exploitation by malicious actors.