CVE-2017-5521: NETGEAR Multiple Devices Exposure of Sensitive Information Vulnerability
An issue was discovered on NETGEAR R8500, R8300, R7000, R6400, R7300, R7100LG, R6300v2, WNDR3400v3, WNR3500Lv2, R6250, R6700, R6900, and R8000 devices. They are prone to password disclosure via simple crafted requests to the web management server. The bug is exploitable remotely if the remote management option is set, and can also be exploited given access to the router over LAN or WLAN. When trying to access the web panel, a user is asked to authenticate; if the authentication is canceled and password recovery is not enabled, the user is redirected to a page that exposes a password recovery token. If a user supplies the correct token to the page /passwordrecovered.cgi?id=TOKEN (and password recovery is not enabled), they will receive the admin password for the router. If password recovery is set the exploit will fail, as it will ask the user for the recovery questions that were previously set when enabling that feature. This is persistent (even after disabling the recovery option, the exploit will fail) because the router will ask for the security questions.
Other sources
Multiple NETGEAR devices are prone to admin password disclosure via simple crafted requests to the web management server.
— CISA
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Compensating control
If the affected NETGEAR device is still in use but has reached end-of-life, disconnect it from the network.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2017-5521?
CVE-2017-5521 has a CVSS score indicating it poses a moderate risk of unauthorized access due to password disclosure.
How do I fix CVE-2017-5521?
To fix CVE-2017-5521, update your NETGEAR device firmware to the latest version available that addresses this vulnerability.
What devices are affected by CVE-2017-5521?
CVE-2017-5521 affects several NETGEAR router models including R8500, R8300, R7000, and others that may use certain firmware versions.
Can CVE-2017-5521 be exploited remotely?
Yes, CVE-2017-5521 can be exploited remotely if the attacker sends specially crafted requests to the web management server.
What are the potential risks associated with CVE-2017-5521?
The primary risk associated with CVE-2017-5521 is unauthorized access to the device's web management interface leading to potential configuration changes or data exposure.