# CVE-2016-5649: Netgear DGN2200 and DGND3700 disclose the administrator password

> Remote attackers can access an unauthenticated page to retrieve the administrator password in clear text, leading to full router compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xgqp-24fp-7v85

## What is CVE-2016-5649?

CVE-2016-5649 is a critical vulnerability in Netgear DGN2200, published on 24 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability is in the 'BSW_cxttongr.htm' page of the Netgear DGN2200, version DGN2200-V1.0.0.50_7.0.50, and DGND3700, version DGND3700-V1.0.0.17_1.0.17, which can allow a remote attacker to access this page without any authentication. When processed, it exposes the admin password in clear text before it gets redirected to absw_vfysucc.cgia. An attacker can use this password to gain administrator access to the targeted router's web interface.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor), CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-5649?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Netgear Dgn2200 Firmware, Netgear Dgnd3700 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-5649?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-5649 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-5649 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-5649 exists.

Public exploit code:

- NETGEAR DGN2200 / DGND3700 - Admin Password Disclosure (nuclei): http/cves/2016/CVE-2016-5649.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Netgear DGN2200

- [CVE-2017-6077](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6077/): NETGEAR DGN2200 Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-17373](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17373/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-57046](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57046/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2017-18755](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-18755/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2017-6366](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6366/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-5649 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-5649 is a critical vulnerability in Netgear DGN2200, published on 24 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-5649 exists.

Affected product: Netgear DGN2200. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5649/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5649/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-5649
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5649
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-5649

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5649/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.