CVE-2021-45732

Configuration manipulation via hardcoded backup encryption

Published Dec 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Hardcoded credentials in NETGEAR Nighthawk R6700v3 firmware 1.0.4.120 allow remote authenticated users to alter router settings. Static encryption or obfuscation permits public extraction tools to decode a backup, after which restricted values can be edited and repackaged. Exploitation requires adjacent network access and router authentication; restoring the crafted backup replaces settings and reboots the device.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.78%
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 Nighthawk R6700v3 firmware 1.0.4.120 allow remote authenticated users to alter router settings. Static encryption or obfuscation permits public extraction tools to decode a backup, after which restricted values can be edited and repackaged. Exploitation requires adjacent network access and router authentication; restoring the crafted backup replaces settings and reboots the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45732
Published
Dec 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
NETGEAR
Product
Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (R6700v3)
Classifications
CWE-798
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 30, 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?

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 vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

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

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.

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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 exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials

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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