CVE-2017-18743 : Security Advisory and Response

An authentication bypass vulnerability has been identified in several NETGEAR devices, impacting models such as R6300v2, R6400, R6700, R6900, R7000, R7100LG, R7300DST, R7900, R8000, R8300, R8500, WNDR3400v3, and WNR3500Lv2.

Understanding CVE-2017-18743

This CVE involves an authentication bypass issue affecting specific NETGEAR router models.

What is CVE-2017-18743?

CVE-2017-18743 is an authentication bypass vulnerability found in various NETGEAR routers, potentially allowing unauthorized access to the devices.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18743

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18743

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication on the affected NETGEAR routers, compromising the security of the devices.

Affected Systems and Versions

R6300v2 (versions prior to 1.0.4.8)
R6400 (versions prior to 1.0.1.20)
R6700 (versions prior to 1.0.1.20)
R6900 (versions prior to 1.0.1.20)
R7000 (versions prior to 1.0.7.10)
R7100LG (versions prior to V1.0.0.32)
R7300DST (versions prior to 1.0.0.52)
R7900 (versions prior to 1.0.1.16)
R8000 (versions prior to 1.0.3.36)
R8300 (versions prior to 1.0.2.94)
R8500 (versions prior to 1.0.2.94)
WNDR3400v3 (versions prior to 1.0.1.12)
WNR3500Lv2 (versions prior to 1.2.0.40)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers in the adjacent network without requiring any privileges, leading to a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your systems from CVE-2017-18743 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the firmware of the affected NETGEAR routers to the latest versions that address the authentication bypass vulnerability.
Change default credentials and set strong, unique passwords for router access.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that might indicate unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly check for firmware updates and apply them promptly to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential threats.
Educate users on best practices for securing their home or office network.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all NETGEAR router models mentioned are updated to versions that have fixed the authentication bypass issue.