CVE-2024-7153 in WN604
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2024
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Netgear WN604 up to 20240719. Affected is an unknown function of the file siteSurvey.php. The manipulation leads to direct request. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-272556. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7153 represents a significant security flaw in Netgear WN604 wireless networking equipment, specifically within the siteSurvey.php file. This issue falls under the category of improper access control or direct request vulnerability, which allows unauthorized users to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and directly access sensitive functionality. The vulnerability affects all versions of the device up to the 20240719 release, indicating a prolonged period during which the device remained exposed to potential exploitation. The affected device operates within the enterprise and small business networking space, where wireless access points serve as critical infrastructure components for network connectivity and management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the siteSurvey.php component. When the device processes requests to this specific file, it fails to properly authenticate or authorize incoming requests, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute unauthorized operations. This flaw enables attackers to perform direct requests against the device's management interface without proper credentials, potentially allowing them to access network configuration data, modify device settings, or even gain full administrative control over the wireless access point. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a critical weakness in the device's security architecture. The ability to exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring physical access or prior authentication significantly amplifies the risk to affected networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7153 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise entire wireless networks managed by the vulnerable Netgear devices. Network administrators may find their wireless infrastructure compromised, leading to potential data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, and unauthorized network access. The vulnerability's public disclosure through VDB-272556 means that threat actors have immediate knowledge of the exploit, removing any element of surprise or time-based advantage that might have otherwise been present. Organizations using these devices face potential regulatory compliance issues, as the vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive data and disruption of business operations. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts compounds the problem, leaving users without official patches or mitigation guidance during the critical window of vulnerability exposure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should include immediate network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments, implementation of network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns, and consideration of temporary network shutdowns until official patches are available. Organizations should also implement network access control measures to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the wireless network and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and establishing robust vendor communication channels for security issue resolution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement, as attackers could potentially use compromised access points to move throughout the network. Network defenders should also consider implementing device authentication mechanisms and regularly auditing wireless network configurations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components.