CVE-2024-36789
Description
An issue in Netgear WNR614 JNR1010V2/N300-V1.1.0.54_1.0.1 allows attackers to create passwords that do not conform to defined security standards.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Netgear WNR614 router lacks password complexity enforcement, allowing attackers to set weak passwords that violate security standards.
Vulnerability
The Netgear WNR614 JNR1010V2/N300-V1.1.0.54_1.0.1 router does not enforce password complexity requirements for administrative credentials. This allows attackers to create passwords that do not conform to defined security standards, potentially enabling weak or easily guessable passwords. The issue is present in firmware version V1.1.0.54_1.0.1. [1]
Exploitation
An attacker with access to the router's web management interface, either through local network access or if the interface is exposed to the internet, can set a password of arbitrary complexity, including simple or empty passwords. No prior authentication is required if the attacker can reach the password change function. [1]
Impact
Successful exploitation results in the administrative password being set to a value that does not meet security standards, making it easier for an attacker to guess or brute-force the credentials. This can lead to full compromise of the router's administrative interface, potentially enabling further attacks such as credential theft or network takeover. [1]
Mitigation
Netgear has not released a firmware patch for this vulnerability, and the device is approaching end-of-life status. No official mitigation is available in the references. As a workaround, users should manually set strong, complex passwords upon initial configuration and consider replacing the device with a supported model. [1]
AI Insight generated on May 25, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
3Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
Root cause
"Complete absence of authentication enforcement on the web management interface allows unauthenticated access to administrative pages and configuration data."
Attack vector
An attacker on the same local network can directly access administrative pages without authentication by sending a crafted HTTP request to the router's management interface, e.g., `curl http://192.168.1.1/currentsetting.htm` [ref_id=1]. This returns the router's configuration including plaintext administrative credentials [CWE-312]. The attacker can then use those credentials to log in, extract the full configuration, modify DNS settings, or enable remote management — all without any password guessing [ref_id=1]. If the management interface is exposed to the internet, the same attack chain can be triggered remotely [ref_id=1].
Affected code
The advisory identifies the Netgear WNR614 router's web management interface as the affected component, specifically the firmware version V1.0.0.34 and earlier [ref_id=1]. No patch files are provided in the bundle.
What the fix does
No patch has been released by Netgear for this device, which is approaching or has reached end-of-life support [ref_id=1]. The advisory recommends replacing the WNR614 with a supported router model that receives active security updates as the only complete remediation [ref_id=1]. Interim mitigations include disabling remote management, isolating the management interface to a dedicated VLAN, changing default credentials to a long random password, and monitoring for unusual DNS changes or unexpected reboots [ref_id=1].
Preconditions
- networkAttacker must be on the same local network as the router, or the router's management interface must be exposed to the internet
- authNo authentication required — the bypass works without any credentials
Reproduction
The advisory documents reproduction steps. To confirm authentication bypass: run `curl -v http://192.168.1.1/setup.cgi?next_file=netgear.cfg&todo=syscmd&cmd=id&curpath=/¤tsetting.htm=1` — if the response includes `uid=0(root)`, the bypass is confirmed [ref_id=1]. To extract plaintext credentials: run `curl -s http://192.168.1.1/currentsetting.htm | grep -i "password"` [ref_id=1].
Generated on May 26, 2026. Inputs: CWE entries + fix-commit diffs from this CVE's patches. Citations validated against bundle.
References
1News mentions
0No linked articles in our index yet.