CVE-2021-40866 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-40866, a critical vulnerability in NETGEAR smart switches allowing remote admin password changes by unauthenticated attackers. Find out the impacted systems and mitigation steps.
NETGEAR smart switches are vulnerable to a critical remote admin password change issue that allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the /sqfs/bin/sccd daemon. This affects several versions of the affected switches.
Understanding CVE-2021-40866
This CVE details a significant vulnerability in NETGEAR smart switches that raises security concerns due to unauthorized remote password changes.
What is CVE-2021-40866?
The vulnerability enables unauthenticated attackers to alter the admin password remotely through the /sqfs/bin/sccd daemon in certain NETGEAR smart switches.
The Impact of CVE-2021-40866
The impact of this CVE is critical with high severity ratings across confidentiality, integrity, and availability aspects, making it a substantial risk for affected systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-40866
The technical information about the vulnerability provides insight into the affected systems and the exploitation mechanisms.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows attackers to change the admin password remotely without authentication in certain NETGEAR smart switches via the /sqfs/bin/sccd daemon.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following NETGEAR smart switch versions are impacted by this vulnerability:
- GC108P before 1.0.8.2
- GS108Tv3 before 7.0.7.2
- GS110TPP before 7.0.7.2
- GS728TPPv2 before 6.0.8.2
- and more.
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability occurs when the /sqfs/bin/sccd daemon fails to authenticate if the authentication TLV is missing from an NSDP packet received by an unauthenticated attacker.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate and long-term measures to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-40866.
Immediate Steps to Take
To address the vulnerability immediately:
- Apply security patches provided by NETGEAR.
- Disable remote management access if not required.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Long-Term Security Practices
For sustained security:
- Regularly update firmware and security patches.
- Implement strong password policies.
- Conduct regular security audits and assessments.
Patching and Updates
NETGEAR has released patches for the affected smart switches. Users should promptly update to the latest firmware versions to eliminate the vulnerability.