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NETGEAR Routers and CVE-2016-582384 security vulnerability
I am a bit concerned about this recent article: http://www.zdnet.com/article/two-netgear-routers-are-vulnerable-to-trivial-to-remote-hack/ https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/582384 Details: Overview Net...
NETGEAR is aware of the security issue #582384 affecting R6250, R6400, R6700, R6900, R7000, R7100LG, R7300DST, R7900, R8000, D6220, D6400 routers. Stay updated here: http://kb.netgear.com/000036386/CVE-2016-582384We now have beta firmware containing fixes for some affected models.
We're working hard on fixes for the other affected models and will update the security ticket above soon.
**** UPDATE from NETGEAR - Added by ChristineT on 12/15/16 at 10:30 AM PST ****
To our NETGEAR Community, we sincerely apologize for any complications you may have encountered due to the recently publicized vulnerability, referred to as VU 582384. We initially became aware of this vulnerability last Friday when CERT emailed us, and because we had no record of a prior report, we began our standard process of validation prior to making any public statements.
Once it had been disclosed that the first notification actually occurred in August, we conducted a search and confirmed this was the case. Admittedly, this was an oversight on our part. While no security reporting system is perfect, we aim to do better, and are evaluating how to improve our response process.
NETGEAR has created a channel for security researchers and other members of the public to contact us regarding potential security issues affecting NETGEAR products (security@netgear.com), which is publicly disclosed from the NETGEAR Product Security Advisory page. We receive numerous emails through this channel, the overwhelming majority of which, on review, do not raise product security issues. When we do recognize that there is a security risk to our customers, we work diligently to address them in a timely manner, as we have done in this case since learning about it last Friday.
Security Advisory for VU 582384 knowledgebase article.
NETGEAR Product Security Advisory page.
Thank you all for your responses. Here's my specific complaints about the Netgear instructions for the security issue:
I clicked on the link for "instructions" that came in the email alerting me to the problem. The first bit of advice was to connect your computer to the router via ethernet cable instead of using a wireless connection. There is no mention of what to do if, like millions of users, your laptop has no ethernet port.
The first numbered bullet advises: "Write down all the settings which you changed from the default values since you may need to re-enter them manually." I have no idea what "default values" are so I went to the next step.
Step number three asks you to log-in to the router. It asks for a user name and password. Up to that point I had never been to the Netgear site and therefore had no user name or passwrod. One of you helpful told me what to use, but why isn't that info on the log-in page. Or more importantly, why doesn't Netgear just log you in since EVERYONE is "admin" and the password is "password"?
Finally, in the "important tips", it advises you that "The upgrade process is completed when the on-screen progress bar completes. If power light LED turns amber and blinking, POWER CYCLE THE ROUTER (caps added) to complete the upgrade." Power cycle the router? What does that even mean? How do you do it?
Perhaps Netgear should have Community members review their proposed "instructions" before they release them to the general public.
Thanks to all of you who responded so quickly.
Jon (JMNB)
JMNB wrote:I clicked on the link for "instructions" that came in the email alerting me to the problem. The first bit of advice was to connect your computer to the router via ethernet cable instead of using a wireless connection. There is no mention of what to do if, like millions of users, your laptop has no ethernet port.
Use the wifi to download a copy of the firmware to your PC. Then go through the update process and pray that nothing goes wrong. Many people happily upgrade using wifi.
JMNB wrote:
The first numbered bullet advises: "Write down all the settings which you changed from the default values since you may need to re-enter them manually." I have no idea what "default values" are so I went to the next step.
If you haven't changed anything, you are on the default values, although you will have a saved username and password for your internet login. Keep a record of those details.
But many people don't bother with that process. Many firmware updates do not require a "factory reset" that will wipe out your settings. This one doesn't seem to need it.
JMNB wrote:Step number three asks you to log-in to the router. It asks for a user name and password. Up to that point I had never been to the Netgear site and therefore had no user name or passwrod. One of you helpful told me what to use, but why isn't that info on the log-in page.
When you login to the router you are going nowhere near the internet. That is a local address for your hardware so that you can get in there and configure things and apply the new firmware.
JMNB wrote:
Or more importantly, why doesn't Netgear just log you in since EVERYONE is "admin" and the password is "password"?
See above. You aren't logging into Netgear.
Most people change the local password as a security measure so that their neighbours don't get in and wreak havoc.
JMNB wrote:
Power cycle the router? What does that even mean? How do you do it?
Good question. It means turn the thing off and on at the mains or using the power switch on the back.