CVE-2021-20167Known exploitationPublic exploit

Root command execution via unsanitized name parameter

Published Dec 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Command injection in readycloud_control.cgi on NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX43 1.0.3.96 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The /api/users handler passes the unfiltered name parameter directly to system(), causing the shell to interpret attacker-supplied metacharacters. The API normally requires authentication and LAN access; a separate URL-parsing flaw can bypass that gate in default configurations.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability7.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in readycloud_control.cgi on NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX43 1.0.3.96 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The /api/users handler passes the unfiltered name parameter directly to system(), causing the shell to interpret attacker-supplied metacharacters. The API normally requires authentication and LAN access; a separate URL-parsing flaw can bypass that gate in default configurations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20167
Published
Dec 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
NETGEAR
Product
Nighthawk RAX43
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2021Exploitation reportedTenable RAX43 authentication-bypass and command-injection chain
  2. Dec 30, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.0.3.96

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

NETGEAR · Nighthawk RAX43version=1.0.3.96

Published CVSS scores

7.7NIST NVDAV:A/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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