NETGEAR DGN2200v1 Authentication Bypass Scanner

NETGEAR DGN2200v1 is a widely used router in both home and small business environments. It provides users with internet connectivity and various network features. The device is manufactured by NETGEAR, known for producing networking hardware such as routers and switches. It allows users to manage network settings through a web interface, typically accessed by administrators. However, the accessibility of its configuration settings may also expose vulnerabilities if not securely managed. The product is generally employed to facilitate communication between local network devices and the wider internet.

The vulnerability involves an authentication bypass, allowing unauthorized access to critical pages on the router. Pages containing certain substrings like ".jpg", ".gif", or "ess_" can be accessed without the need for authentication if these substrings match the entire URL. This vulnerability represents a security misconfiguration allowing attackers to bypass login protections. It compromises the intended access control, rendering sensitive settings open to exploitation.

The technical details of the vulnerability lie in the URL parsing for authentication requirements. By appending specific substrings such as ".gif", any URL can bypass authentication mechanisms. The vulnerable endpoints are those requiring authentication but can be impersonated by these substrings. The issue notably affects pages related to WAN setup and potentially more, including critical configuration pathways. Security measures failing to sanitize or confirm full path match on certain strings lead to this flaw.

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to make unauthorized changes to the router’s configuration, potentially disrupting the network, injecting malicious settings, or stealing sensitive data. The attack may lead to further network compromises, data leaks, or use the device as a stepping stone to more significant attacks on connected devices. Such security breaches can severely impact privacy and operational integrity.

REFERENCES

• https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/06/30/microsoft-finds-new-netgear-firmware-vulnerabilities-that-could-lead-to-identity-theft-and-full-system-compromise/
• https://kb.netgear.com/000062646/Security-Advisory-for-Multiple-HTTPd-Authentication-Vulnerabilities-on-DGN2200v1