CVE-2019-12511 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In previous versions of NETGEAR Nighthawk X10-R9000 (prior to 1.0.4.26), an attacker can execute arbitrary system commands as the root user by sending a specifically crafted MAC address to the "NETGEAR Genie" SOAP endpoint at AdvancedQoS:GetCurrentBandwidthByMAC. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely using DNS rebinding techniques.

Understanding CVE-2019-12511

This CVE involves a root command injection vulnerability in the SOAP API of NETGEAR Nighthawk X10-R9000.

What is CVE-2019-12511?

The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute system commands as the root user by manipulating the MAC address sent to the SOAP endpoint.

The Impact of CVE-2019-12511

Successful exploitation grants unauthorized access to execute commands as the root user.
Attackers can interact with the SOAP API without authentication, leveraging additional vulnerabilities.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-12511

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Attacker can execute arbitrary system commands as root by sending a crafted MAC address to the SOAP endpoint.

Affected Systems and Versions

NETGEAR Nighthawk X10-R9000 versions prior to 1.0.4.26.

Exploitation Mechanism

Requires QoS and advanced QoS to be enabled, along with a valid authentication JWT.
Additional vulnerabilities (CVE-2019-12510) allow interaction with the SOAP API without authentication.
DNS rebinding techniques can be used for remote exploitation.
Complex exploitation process due to payload limitations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-12511 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update NETGEAR Nighthawk X10-R9000 to version 1.0.4.26 or later.
Disable QoS and advanced QoS if not essential.
Monitor network traffic for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and security patches.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing.
Educate users on safe computing practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by NETGEAR to address the vulnerability.