# CVE-2019-17137: Auth bypass in AC1200

> Network-adjacent attackers can bypass authentication on NETGEAR AC1200 routers by inserting a null byte into path strings.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/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:** 10 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fhq7-6cpq-vcv8

## What is CVE-2019-17137?

CVE-2019-17137 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in NETGEAR AC1200, published on 10 Feb 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of NETGEAR AC1200 R6220 Firmware version 1.1.0.86 Smart WiFi Router. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the processing of path strings. By inserting a null byte into the path, the user can skip most authentication checks. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to bypass authentication on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-8616.

Weakness: CWE-626 (Null Byte Interaction Error (Poison Null Byte))

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-17137?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgear Ac1200 R6220 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-17137?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-17137 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-17137 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-17137 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2019-17137 POC (github_poc): https://github.com/vncloudsco/CVE-2019-17137

## Other vulnerabilities in NETGEAR AC1200

- [CVE-2022-47052](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-47052/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-17137 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-17137 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in NETGEAR AC1200, published on 10 Feb 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-17137 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: NETGEAR AC1200. 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-2019-17137/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17137/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17137
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-17137
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-17137

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17137/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.