CVE-2021-20175Network attack vector

Cleartext SOAP transmission of credentials

Published Dec 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Cleartext transmission in NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700 version 1.0.4.120 allows remote attackers to read credentials via SOAP port 5000. The router sends SOAP requests and responses over HTTP by default instead of an encrypted transport, so usernames and passwords traverse the interface in cleartext. Attackers able to reach port 5000 on the network can passively capture these credentials; the record describes confidentiality loss without integrity or availability effects.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext transmission in NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700 version 1.0.4.120 allows remote attackers to read credentials via SOAP port 5000. The router sends SOAP requests and responses over HTTP by default instead of an encrypted transport, so usernames and passwords traverse the interface in cleartext. Attackers able to reach port 5000 on the network can passively capture these credentials; the record describes confidentiality loss without integrity or availability effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20175
Published
Dec 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
NETGEAR
Product
Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (R6700v3)
Classifications
CWE-319, T1040
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=1.0.4.120

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NETGEAR · Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (R6700v3)version=1.0.4.120

Published CVSS scores

5.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-319Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
T1040Network Sniffing

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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