CVE-2017-18731

Vulnerability

A security misconfiguration vulnerability exists in the firmware of several NETGEAR routers. The affected models are R6100 before 1.0.1.16, R7500 before 1.0.0.112, R7500v2 before 1.0.3.20, R7800 before 1.0.2.36, and WNR2000v5 before 1.0.0.58. The exact nature of the misconfiguration is not publicly detailed, but it resides in the device's security settings and is reachable without authentication from the local network [1].

Exploitation

An attacker must be on the same local network as the target device (adjacent network, AV:A). No authentication is required (PR:N), and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The attack complexity is low (AC:L). The advisory does not provide a step-by-step exploit sequence, but the misconfiguration can be leveraged to alter device settings or access information without credentials [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation results in low impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:L/I:L/A:L). The attacker may gain limited ability to read or modify device configuration or disrupt normal operation. The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the compromise is confined to the affected router [1].

Mitigation

NETGEAR has released fixed firmware versions: R6100 firmware 1.0.1.16, R7500 firmware 1.0.0.112, R7500v2 firmware 1.0.3.20, R7800 firmware 1.0.2.36, and WNR2000v5 firmware 1.0.0.58. Users should update to the latest firmware via the NETGEAR Support page. No workarounds are provided, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog [1].