# CVE-2021-27273: Command injection in ProSAFE Network Management System

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges by exploiting a command injection flaw in the network management system.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Mar 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5jv4-p54c-22j4

## What is CVE-2021-27273?

CVE-2021-27273 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System, published on 29 Mar 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System 1.6.0.26. Although authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability, the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed. The specific flaw exists within the SettingConfigController class. When parsing the fileName parameter, the process does not properly validate a user-supplied string before using it to execute a system call. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-12121.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-27273?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-27273?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-27273 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-27273 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-27273 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System

- [CVE-2023-38096](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38096/): NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System MyHandlerInterceptor Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-49693](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49693/): NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System RCE via Unprotected Access to Java Debug Wire Protocol (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-27274](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27274/): File upload in ProSAFE Network Management System (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-6813](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-6813/): NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System getSortString SQL Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-6814](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-6814/): NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System getFilterString SQL Injection Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-27273 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-27273 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System, published on 29 Mar 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-27273 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: NETGEAR ProSAFE Network Management System. 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-2021-27273/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27273/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-27273
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-27273
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-27273

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27273/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.