CVE intelligence and bounded remediation
CVE-2021-20170 — Netgear RAX43 version 1.0.3.96 makes use of hardcoded credentials
Netgear RAX43 version 1.0.3.96 makes use of hardcoded credentials. It does not appear that normal users are intended to be able to manipulate configuration backups due to the fact that they are encrypted. This encryption is accomplished via a password-protected zip file with a hardcoded password (RAX50w!a4udk). By unzipping the configuration using this password, a user can reconfigure settings not intended to be manipulated, re-zip the configuration, and restore a backup causing these settings to be changed.
- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Published
- 2021-12-30
- CISA KEV
- Not currently listed
- Ecosystem
- operating-system
- Weaknesses
- CWE-798
Affected products
- netgear / rax43_firmware / 1.0.3.96
Matched remediation archetype
Authentication bypass and missing authentication
This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.
Check exposure
- Map every affected endpoint and protocol path, including alternate ports, legacy routes, recovery flows, service accounts, and machine-to-machine access.
- Confirm which deployments enable the affected authentication mode and whether the interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review session, token, credential, and proxy trust configuration without attempting account takeover.
Remediate safely
- Apply the supported fix and centralize fail-closed authentication before protected request handling.
- Remove default or embedded credentials, rotate affected secrets and sessions, and bind authentication decisions to the intended audience and channel.
- Add negative tests for alternate routes, malformed or absent credentials, recovery flows, and proxy-derived identity.
Authoritative sources
Complete CVE record and remediation plan
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