CVE-2024-57233: Command Injection Vulnerability in NETGEAR RAX5 WiFi Router

Overview

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recently identified a critical vulnerability in the NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router), specifically version v1.0.2.26. This vulnerability, listed as CVE-2024-57233, is a command injection vulnerability that can potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage, posing significant threats to any network relying on this device for connectivity.
This vulnerability is particularly concerning because of the high severity score attributed to it. With a CVSS score of 9.8, it is considered a critical vulnerability that requires immediate attention and mitigation. Any organization, service provider, or individual using the affected NETGEAR router is urged to take the necessary steps to protect their systems from potential exploits.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-57233
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) | v1.0.2.26

How the Exploit Works

The CVE-2024-57233 vulnerability exploits a command injection flaw in the vif_disable function of the NETGEAR RAX5 router’s firmware. Specifically, the vulnerability arises from the improper sanitization of the ‘iface’ parameter, allowing malicious commands to be inserted and executed. This can enable a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected router, ultimately leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. Please note this is a simplified illustration and actual exploitation would require more complex commands.

POST /vif_disable HTTP/1.1
Host: router-ip-address
Content-Type: application/json
{ "iface": "; rm -rf /; # " }

In this example, the malicious command `rm -rf /` is injected into the ‘iface’ parameter. If executed, this command would erase all files on the system, causing extensive damage.