---

Netgear routers are used worldwide for home and small office networks, promising security and reliability. But just like many other embedded devices, sometimes firmware contains vulnerabilities that attackers can use to get unauthorized access. One such recent vulnerability is CVE-2024-36795. In this article, we’ll break down the issue in *simple terms*, show some code snippets, and talk about how attackers could exploit this flaw.

What Is CVE-2024-36795?

CVE-2024-36795 is an insecure permissions vulnerability in Netgear router models WNR614 and JNR101V2/N300 (firmware version V1.1..54_1..1). This bug allows attackers to access certain URLs and directories inside the router's firmware that should only be reachable by an administrator. The attack vector is unspecified in the CVE post, but similar bugs typically involve poorly configured web server permissions.

*Official CVE reference: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36795*

Why Is This Dangerous?

Normally, admin-only pages (like settings or configuration backups) are protected either by a login or firewall. But with this vulnerability, a user on the same network — for example, someone connected to your Wi-Fi — could potentially browse directly to hidden or important functions.

Real-World Example (Hypothetical Exploitation)

To help you see how this works, let’s look at a simplified scenario. Netgear’s mini web server (usually mini_httpd or similar) serves up a control panel. It restricts access to certain folders (like /cgi-bin or /backup) by checking if the user is authenticated:

// router firmware pseudo-code
if (strcmp(request->path, "/admin") ==  || strncmp(request->path, "/backup", 7) == ) {
    if (!is_authenticated(request->cookies)) {
        return 403; // Forbidden
    }
}
// ... serve file or code

But if the permission checks are incomplete (due to misconfiguration in the embedded web server), an attacker might be able to visit "hidden" URLs directly! Here’s what you might see in a router’s config file:

# Lighttpd.conf snippet (insecure example)
$HTTP["url"] =~ "^/(backup|hidden|diagnostic)" { 
    # No authentication enforced!
    server.document-root = "/www/hidden"
}

If an attacker discovers http://<router_ip>/backup/config.cfg, they might download the config file without needing a password — just by guessing or knowing the URL.

How Might An Attacker Find These URLs?

Reconnaissance scripts are a classic way to probe routers for hidden files. Here’s a simple Python example:

import requests

router_ip = "192.168.1.1"
paths = ["/backup/config.cfg", "/hidden/status", "/diagnostic/logs"]
for path in paths:
    url = f"http://{router_ip}{path}";
    r = requests.get(url)
    if r.status_code == 200:
        print(f"Found accessible: {url}")
    else:
        print(f"Not accessible: {url} (status {r.status_code})")

*If the script prints "Found accessible", you have a problem!*

Known Exploitable Paths (Research Examples)

Researchers have previously shown that Netgear routers sometimes expose these (the real URLs may differ by firmware):

- /backup/settings.conf
- /tools/ping
- /hidden_admin.html
- /diagnostic_data.txt

If access control is missing or misconfigured in the router’s firmware web server, visiting these URLs from a browser (on the same WiFi) can let anyone dump config or debug your network.

Is There A Public Exploit?

As of June 2024, there’s no public Metasploit module or pre-written exploit *specifically* for CVE-2024-36795. However, the vulnerability is similar to older path and permission bugs in Netgear routers, for which proof-of-concept scripts exist. This example from 2017 shows the same kind of web admin leak.

Mitigations

1. Update Firmware ASAP: Netgear may release patches. Always keep your router’s firmware updated via the official portal.
2. Change Default Passwords: If you haven’t already, change your router’s login from ‘admin’ / ‘password’ to a strong passphrase.
3. Segment Your Wi-Fi: Do not let guests or unknown devices connect to your main network. Use guest Wi-Fi for visitors.
4. Restrict Web Admin Interface: If possible, turn off remote or wireless access to the admin web page, and only allow it from wired devices (if your router permits it).

References

- CVE-2024-36795 | NVD Details
- Netgear WNR614 Support
- Netgear JNR101 Support
- BleepingComputer: Netgear router security issues

Conclusion

CVE-2024-36795 shows how router security can be tripped up by simple permission mistakes. If you run one of these Netgear models, treat the firmware as potentially vulnerable until patched, and *lock down* your admin pages. Attackers don’t need complex exploits if firmware lets them walk right in!

Timeline

Published on: 06/06/2024 21:15:48 UTC
Last modified on: 08/22/2024 16:35:04 UTC