CVE-2018-21131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-21131 affecting certain NETGEAR devices, allowing unauthenticated firmware downgrades on WAC505 and WAC510 models. Find mitigation steps and updates here.
This CVE involves a vulnerability in certain NETGEAR devices that allows unauthenticated firmware downgrades, impacting specific models.
Understanding CVE-2018-21131
What is CVE-2018-21131?
Certain NETGEAR devices, specifically WAC505 and WAC510 models, are susceptible to unauthorized firmware downgrades, enabling potential security breaches.
The Impact of CVE-2018-21131
The vulnerability poses a high risk to device availability and integrity, allowing attackers to compromise affected devices without authentication.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-21131
Vulnerability Description
The issue allows downgrading firmware without authentication on NETGEAR WAC505 devices before version 5.0.0.17 and WAC510 devices prior to version 5.0.0.17.
Affected Systems and Versions
- NETGEAR WAC505 devices before version 5.0.0.17
- NETGEAR WAC510 devices before version 5.0.0.17
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
- Availability Impact: High
- Integrity Impact: High
- Privileges Required: None
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade affected devices to the latest firmware versions.
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure.
- Monitor for unauthorized firmware changes.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Conduct security assessments to identify and address potential risks.
Patching and Updates
Apply security patches provided by NETGEAR to address the vulnerability.