CVE-2021-20170

Configuration manipulation via hardcoded backup password

Published Dec 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Hardcoded credentials in NETGEAR RAX43 firmware 1.0.3.96 allow remote authenticated users to alter settings via a crafted backup. The configuration-backup mechanism protects ZIP archives with the same embedded password rather than a device-specific secret. An authenticated user on an adjacent network can decrypt, edit, re-encrypt, and restore an archive, changing settings that the interface does not expose.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hardcoded credentials in NETGEAR RAX43 firmware 1.0.3.96 allow remote authenticated users to alter settings via a crafted backup. The configuration-backup mechanism protects ZIP archives with the same embedded password rather than a device-specific secret. An authenticated user on an adjacent network can decrypt, edit, re-encrypt, and restore an archive, changing settings that the interface does not expose.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20170
Published
Dec 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
NETGEAR
Product
Nighthawk AX5 5-Stream AX4200 WiFi Router (RAX43)
Classifications
CWE-798, T1565.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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 AX5 5-Stream AX4200 WiFi Router (RAX43)version=1.0.3.96

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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