CVE-2021-33514Public exploit

Root command execution via unsanitized setup token

Published May 21, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Command injection in NETGEAR smart-switch firmware allows remote attackers on the management network to execute commands as root. The setup.cgi handler passes its token parameter to libsal's sal_sys_ssoReturnToken_chk, which embeds the value inside a shell command without restricting it to Base64 characters. Network access to the switch's management interface is sufficient; injected commands can disclose configuration, alter switching behavior, or interrupt service.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability7.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in NETGEAR smart-switch firmware allows remote attackers on the management network to execute commands as root. The setup.cgi handler passes its token parameter to libsal's sal_sys_ssoReturnToken_chk, which embeds the value inside a shell command without restricting it to Base64 characters. Network access to the switch's management interface is sufficient; injected commands can disclose configuration, alter switching behavior, or interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33514
Published
May 21, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004, T1190
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 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

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 vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NETGEARCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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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