Author: Ameeba

Overview

We will be diving into the details of a recently discovered critical vulnerability – CVE-2024-57235. This command injection vulnerability has been identified in the NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) V1.0.2.26. This is a critical vulnerability due to its potential to lead to system compromise or data leakage. Given the ubiquity of NETGEAR routers in homes and businesses across the globe, the vulnerability holds the potential for widespread impact.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-57235
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) | V1.0.2.26

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in the vif_enable function of the NETGEAR RAX5 router. Specifically, the ‘iface’ parameter is susceptible to command injection. This means that an attacker can inject malicious code that the system will execute. This could potentially lead to unauthorized access, system compromise, or data leakage.
By leveraging this vulnerability, an attacker can run arbitrary commands on the system, which could be used to disable security measures, manipulate data, or even install malware. The most alarming aspect is that this vulnerability requires no user interaction and no special privileges, significantly increasing the ease and potential range of attacks.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example showing how the vulnerability might be exploited using an HTTP POST request:

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

In this example, the malicious payload `”; rm -rf /;”` would be injected into the ‘iface’ parameter. This is a destructive command that, when executed, would delete all files in the system. This is just one example of what an attacker could do. The actual impact could be even more severe, depending on the attacker’s intentions.

Recommended Mitigations

It is highly recommended to apply the vendor’s patch to fix this vulnerability. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation. These can help detect and block attacks attempting to exploit this vulnerability. However, they should not be considered a long-term solution as they do not address the root cause of the vulnerability.

Overview

The cybersecurity world has been rocked by the discovery of a critical vulnerability in the NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router), an essential piece of networking equipment used by many businesses and individuals globally. This flaw, identified as CVE-2024-57234, exposes users to potential system compromise or data leakage. Given the severity of this vulnerability and the widespread use of the affected product, it is crucial for all users and administrators to be aware of this issue and take immediate measures to ensure their systems’ safety.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-57234
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) | V1.0.2.26

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability originates from a command injection flaw in the ‘apcli_cancel_wps’ function, specifically via the ‘ifname’ parameter. Command injection vulnerabilities occur when an application passes unsafe user-supplied data (forms, cookies, HTTP headers, etc.) to a system shell. In this case, an attacker could manipulate the ‘ifname’ parameter to execute arbitrary commands on the system, leading to system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited:

POST /apcli_cancel_wps HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
ifname=;rm -rf /;#&submit=Cancel

In this example, the attacker is injecting the `rm -rf /;#` command into the ‘ifname’ parameter. This command will delete all files on the target system.

Mitigation and Prevention

As a mitigation measure, users of the affected version of NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) should immediately apply the patch provided by the vendor. If the patch cannot be applied immediately, temporary mitigation can be achieved by using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to block or alert on malicious requests.
In the longer term, to prevent similar vulnerabilities, it is advised to follow secure coding practices such as input validation, parameterized queries, and appropriate error handling. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be part of the product’s life cycle.

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.

Overview

A critical vulnerability has been identified in NETGEAR’s RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) with firmware version V1.0.2.26. This vulnerability, assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier CVE-2024-57232, could potentially allow an attacker to compromise the entire system or leak sensitive data. Given the widespread use of NETGEAR routers across households and businesses, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk that could be exploited to gain unauthorized control over private networks.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-57232
Severity: Critical (CVSS score: 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) | V1.0.2.26

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from a command injection flaw in the ‘apcli_wps_gen_pincode’ function of the device’s firmware. This function is designed to generate a WPS pin code, but it improperly sanitizes the ‘ifname’ parameter. An attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a crafted request containing malicious commands in the ‘ifname’ parameter. As the function does not properly validate this parameter, the injected commands could be executed with root privileges, leading to a complete system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

Below is a conceptual example demonstrating how this vulnerability might be exploited. This example uses a HTTP POST request to send a malicious command in the ‘ifname’ parameter.

POST /apcli_wps_gen_pincode HTTP/1.1
Host: target_router_ip
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
ifname=`;reboot;`

In this example, the command ‘reboot’ is injected into the ifname parameter. If the request is processed by the vulnerable router, the system would then execute the injected command, causing an immediate reboot of the device. This is a simplistic example; in reality, an attacker could inject far more destructive or malicious commands.

Mitigation

Users of the affected product are urged to update their firmware to the latest version as soon as possible. If a patch is not immediately available, users can use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. These can help detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable function. However, these measures should be seen only as stopgaps until a permanent fix is available from the vendor.

Overview

In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity threats, a new vulnerability has been identified in the widely used NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router). The vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-57230, is a high-risk command injection flaw that has the potential to compromise systems and lead to data leakage. This vulnerability is of particular concern as it affects one of the cornerstones of network infrastructure, potentially putting countless systems at risk. Addressing this issue at the earliest is paramount to ensure network security and to protect sensitive data.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2024-57230
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Severity Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

NETGEAR RAX5 (AX1600 WiFi Router) | V1.0.2.26

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of a command injection vulnerability via the ifname parameter in the apcli_do_enr_pin_wps function. An attacker can pass malicious commands embedded in this parameter, which are then executed by the system. This could lead to unauthorized actions being performed, ranging from data exfiltration to a full system compromise.

Conceptual Example Code

An example of how the vulnerability might be exploited is shown below. In this conceptual example, a malicious command is injected via the ifname parameter.

POST /apcli_do_enr_pin_wps HTTP/1.1
Host: target_router_ip_address
Content-Type: application/json
{ "ifname": ";[malicious_command]" }

In the above example, `[malicious_command]` would be replaced by the actual command that the attacker wishes to execute. The semicolon (;) is used to separate commands in many command-line environments, allowing the attacker to append their own command to the ifname parameter.
Please note, this is a conceptual example and may differ from an actual exploit based on the specific implementation and configuration of the router.

Mitigation Guidance

NETGEAR has released a patch to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to update their firmware to the latest version immediately. In the interim, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability.