CVE-2021-45511Known exploitationPublic exploit

Administrator credential disclosure via unauthenticated PNPX action

Published Dec 26, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in NETGEAR router firmware before the listed fixed releases allows remote attackers to read administrator credentials. The mini_http service exposes the PNPX_GetShareFolderList action through setup.cgi without authentication and returns the administrator password in plaintext. The attacker must reach the router's adjacent-network web interface; the disclosed credentials grant administrative portal access.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability17.64%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in NETGEAR router firmware before the listed fixed releases allows remote attackers to read administrator credentials. The mini_http service exposes the PNPX_GetShareFolderList action through setup.cgi without authentication and returns the administrator password in plaintext. The attacker must reach the router's adjacent-network web interface; the disclosed credentials grant administrative portal access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45511
Published
Dec 26, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1555
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 26, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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?

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

9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NETGEARCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1555Credentials from Password Stores

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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