CVE-2024-30569 in R6850
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2024
An information leak in currentsetting.htm of Netgear R6850 v1.1.0.88 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information without any authentication required.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-30569 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Netgear R6850 router firmware version 1.1.0.88. This issue affects the currentsetting.htm web interface component which is accessible through the device's web management portal. The flaw stems from inadequate access controls and improper input validation within the web application layer, allowing unauthenticated attackers to retrieve sensitive configuration data and system information directly from the router's memory without requiring any credentials or privileged access. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the router's security architecture where sensitive data that should remain protected within the device's internal memory is exposed through a web interface that lacks proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the R6850 model, which is part of Netgear's consumer-grade networking equipment designed for home and small office environments, making it a potential target for both skilled and amateur attackers seeking to exploit network infrastructure devices.
The technical implementation of this information leak occurs through the currentsetting.htm page which serves as a configuration interface for the router's current settings. When an attacker accesses this specific web page, the application fails to validate whether the request originates from an authenticated user or if the request is legitimate. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and is classified under CWE-200, which describes improper information exposure in software systems. The flaw allows attackers to extract configuration parameters, network settings, and potentially administrative credentials that are stored in memory or accessible through the web interface. The absence of proper session management and authentication checks means that any device on the network or even external attackers who can reach the router's IP address can access this information. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it demonstrates poor security design principles where sensitive data is exposed through predictable web paths that do not require any authentication tokens or user verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-30569 extends beyond simple information disclosure and creates significant security risks for affected networks. Once an attacker obtains the sensitive information through this vulnerability, they can gain insights into the network topology, IP address ranges, configured services, and potentially administrative credentials that could be used for further attacks. The information leak could enable attackers to perform network reconnaissance, identify other vulnerable devices on the network, or exploit additional vulnerabilities within the same network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and violates fundamental security concepts of access control and information protection. The exposure of router configuration data could allow attackers to bypass security controls, modify network settings, or establish persistent access points within the network. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a low-effort entry point that can lead to more sophisticated attacks including lateral movement, credential harvesting, and potential network compromise. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the router serves as a gateway device, as it could provide attackers with direct access to internal network resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-30569 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the latest firmware update from Netgear which should contain patches addressing the authentication bypass and information disclosure vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to critical network devices and ensure that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. Network administrators should consider implementing additional access controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to the router's web management interface to trusted IP addresses only. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting and T1071 for application layer protocols. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual access patterns to web management interfaces and implementation of intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to access sensitive configuration pages without authentication. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network devices and ensure that all firmware and software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists and restricting remote administrative access to only necessary personnel with proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in place.