CVE-2021-29079 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A critical CVE-2021-29079 has been identified impacting certain NETGEAR devices, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to execute command injection. This vulnerability affects multiple models before version 3.2.17.12.

Understanding CVE-2021-29079

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-29079 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-29079?

The CVE-2021-29079 vulnerability involves command injection by unauthorized attackers in certain NETGEAR devices, enabling them to execute malicious commands without authentication. This can lead to a severe security breach.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29079

With a CVSS base score of 9.6 out of 10, this critical vulnerability poses a high risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can exploit this flaw to compromise affected devices and potentially gain unauthorized access or disrupt services.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29079

This section dives into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-29079.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform command injection on vulnerable NETGEAR devices. Models impacted include RBK852, RBK853, RBK854, RBR850, and RBS850 before version 3.2.17.12.

Affected Systems and Versions

NETGEAR devices susceptible to this vulnerability include RBK852, RBK853, RBK854, RBR850, and RBS850 before firmware version 3.2.17.12.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests to the affected NETGEAR devices, allowing them to inject and execute malicious commands.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the recommended steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-29079 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the firmware of affected devices to version 3.2.17.12 or later.
Restrict network access to ensure only authorized users can interact with the devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all network-connected devices to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to enhance device security.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by NETGEAR to address the CVE-2021-29079 vulnerability and enhance the security of affected devices.