CVE-2021-45643 in R6400v2
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2021
Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by incorrect configuration of security settings. This affects R6400v2 before 1.0.4.118, R6700v3 before 1.0.4.118, and XR1000 before 1.0.0.58.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45643 represents a critical configuration flaw in several NETGEAR router models that undermines fundamental network security controls. This issue affects specific firmware versions of R6400v2, R6700v3, and XR1000 devices, where security settings have been improperly configured during the manufacturing or software deployment process. The flaw stems from inadequate default security parameter initialization, creating persistent weaknesses that remain unaddressed without explicit user intervention or firmware updates. The affected models represent widely deployed consumer and small office networking equipment, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a threat landscape perspective.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper security setting configurations that typically include weak default credentials, insufficient encryption protocols, or misconfigured access controls. When devices boot with these flawed configurations, they expose network services and administrative interfaces to unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability operates at the configuration layer rather than through code execution flaws, making it particularly persistent since it affects the device's fundamental security posture from the moment it is powered on. This configuration error creates a baseline security weakness that persists across device reboots and normal operational cycles.
From an operational impact standpoint, this vulnerability exposes affected NETGEAR devices to a range of potential attacks including unauthorized administrative access, network reconnaissance, and lateral movement within compromised networks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially gain full control over the affected routers, enabling them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors. The exposure affects both the local network and external connectivity, as compromised routers can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration attempts. The vulnerability's persistence across device reboots means that even if users attempt to manually secure their devices, the underlying configuration issues remain unresolved until proper firmware updates are applied.
Organizations and network administrators should prioritize immediate remediation of affected devices through firmware updates provided by NETGEAR, as these updates address the root cause of the misconfigured security settings. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-754 which describes improper initialization of security-critical variables, and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-44 for network device security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the misconfigured settings to establish persistent access to network infrastructure. Network segmentation and monitoring of router administrative interfaces should be implemented as additional defensive measures while firmware updates are deployed. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the necessity of validating security settings during device deployment and maintenance cycles.