CVE-2017-18704 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in certain NETGEAR devices allows unauthorized access to view files. Affected models include D6220, D6400, D8500, R6250, R6300v2, R6400, R6400v2, R6700, R6900, R7000, R7000P, R6900P, R7100LG, R7300DST, R7900, R8000, R8500, R8300, and WNDR3400v3.

Understanding CVE-2017-18704

This CVE identifies a security flaw in NETGEAR devices that enables an attacker to read arbitrary files.

What is CVE-2017-18704?

Certain NETGEAR devices are vulnerable to unauthorized file access, impacting various router models.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18704

CVSS Score: 6.5 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Confidentiality Impact: High
No Integrity Impact

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18704

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to read arbitrary files on affected NETGEAR devices.

Affected Systems and Versions

D6220 (before 1.0.0.32)
D6400 (before 1.0.0.60)
D8500 (before 1.0.3.29)
R6250 (before 1.0.4.16)
R6300v2 (before 1.0.4.18)
R6400 (before 1.01.32)
R6400v2 (before 1.0.2.44)
R6700 (before 1.0.1.36)
R6900 (before 1.0.1.34)
R7000 (before 1.0.9.14)
R7000P (before 1.3.0.8)
R6900P (before 1.3.0.8)
R7100LG (before 1.0.0.34)
R7300DST (before 1.0.0.56)
R7900 (before 1.0.1.26)
R8000 (before 1.0.4.4)
R8500 (before 1.0.2.106)
R8300 (before 1.0.2.106)
WNDR3400v3 (before 1.0.1.16)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker on the same network as the affected device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-18704 with these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected devices to the latest firmware.
Restrict network access to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security advisories from NETGEAR.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by NETGEAR to address this vulnerability.