CVE-2019-5054 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in the session handling feature of the NETGEAR N300 (WNR2000v5) with Firmware Version V1.0.0.70 can lead to a denial-of-service attack. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to crash the HTTP service by sending a specially crafted HTTP request.

Understanding CVE-2019-5054

This CVE involves a null pointer dereference vulnerability in the NETGEAR N300 (WNR2000v5) HTTP server, allowing unauthenticated attackers to disrupt the service.

What is CVE-2019-5054?

CVE-2019-5054 is a high-severity vulnerability in the NETGEAR N300 (WNR2000v5) HTTP server's session handling feature, potentially leading to a denial-of-service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5054

CVSS Base Score: 7.5 (High)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: Low
Availability Impact: High
Privileges Required: None
This vulnerability can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to crash the HTTP service, causing a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5054

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the way the session handling feature of the NETGEAR N300 (WNR2000v5) HTTP server processes HTTP requests.
By sending an HTTP request with an empty User-Agent string to an authentication-required page, a null pointer dereference occurs, leading to a crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: N300 WNR2000v5
Vendor: Netgear
Affected Version: Firmware Version V1.0.0.70

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted HTTP request with an empty User-Agent string to a page that requires authentication.
This triggers a null pointer dereference, causing the HTTP service to crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5054 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Netgear promptly.
Implement network-level controls to filter out malicious HTTP requests.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Netgear may release patches to address this vulnerability; ensure timely installation to mitigate the risk of exploitation.