CVE-2021-45679 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by privilege escalation vulnerabilities. This includes models R6900P, R7000, R7000P, and RS400. An attacker can exploit these vulnerabilities to escalate privileges.

Understanding CVE-2021-45679

Certain NETGEAR devices face a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that can have severe security implications.

What is CVE-2021-45679?

CVE-2021-45679 exposes a privilege escalation flaw in NETGEAR devices, allowing unauthorized users to elevate their privileges on the affected routers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-45679

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.4, indicating a high severity level. The impact includes high confidentiality, integrity, and availability risks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-45679

This section covers specific technical details of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in NETGEAR devices allows an attacker to escalate privileges. Affected models include R6900P, R7000, R7000P, and RS400.

Affected Systems and Versions

R6900P before 1.3.3.140
R7000 before 1.0.11.126
R7000P before 1.3.3.140
RS400 before 1.5.1.80

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Adjacent Network
Privileges Required: High
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your systems from CVE-2021-45679 is crucial for maintaining network security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected NETGEAR devices to the latest firmware versions.
Implement network segmentation to minimize potential attack surfaces.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing.
Educate users about phishing and social engineering tactics.
Apply the principle of least privilege to limit user access.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for firmware updates from NETGEAR and apply patches promptly to address security vulnerabilities.