CVE-2017-5521Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated password disclosure via unchecked recovery requests

Published Jan 17, 2017 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Password disclosure in NETGEAR router web management allows remote attackers to read the administrator password via recovery requests. The /passwordrecovered.cgi endpoint returns credentials for a token exposed after canceled authentication; a second path accepts any token on the first recovery request after reboot. Exploitation requires LAN or WLAN access, or enabled remote management, which is disabled by default; previously configured recovery questions block disclosure even after password recovery is disabled.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability89.35%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Password disclosure in NETGEAR router web management allows remote attackers to read the administrator password via recovery requests. The /passwordrecovered.cgi endpoint returns credentials for a token exposed after canceled authentication; a second path accepts any token on the first recovery request after reboot. Exploitation requires LAN or WLAN access, or enabled remote management, which is disabled by default; previously configured recovery questions block disclosure even after password recovery is disabled.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-5521
Published
Jan 17, 2017
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-200, T1212
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 17, 2017CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsShadowserver observations through Sep 28, 2026. Gaps indicate unavailable data.
Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
View daily counts
Reporting dayUnique IPs
Sep 22, 20261
Sep 23, 2026Unavailable
Sep 24, 20261
Sep 25, 20261
Sep 26, 20262
Sep 27, 20261
Sep 28, 20261
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPs1
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1212Exploitation for Credential Access

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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