# CVE-2021-34865: Auth bypass in Multiple Routers

> Network-adjacent attackers can bypass authentication on NETGEAR routers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code as root.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:A/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2022
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5wc2-pfcw-568j

## What is CVE-2021-34865?

CVE-2021-34865 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Netgear R6220 Firmware, published on 25 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to bypass authentication on affected installations of multiple NETGEAR routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the mini_httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from incorrect string matching logic when accessing protected pages. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-13313.

Weakness: CWE-697 (Incorrect Comparison), CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-34865?

It affects 17 products.


Products: Netgear Ac2100 Firmware, Netgear Ac2400 Firmware, Netgear Ac2600 Firmware, Netgear D7000v1 Firmware, Netgear R6220 Firmware, Netgear R6230 Firmware, Netgear R6260 Firmware, Netgear R6330 Firmware, Netgear R6350 Firmware, Netgear R6700v2 Firmware, Netgear R6800 Firmware, Netgear R6850 Firmware, Netgear R6900v2 Firmware, Netgear R7200 Firmware, Netgear R7350 Firmware, Netgear R7400 Firmware, Netgear R7450 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-34865?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-34865 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-34865 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-34865 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Netgear R6220 Firmware

- [CVE-2021-38516](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38516/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-29068](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29068/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2020-35795](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35795/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-35800](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-35800/): Misconfiguration in n/a (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2020-26927](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-26927/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-34865 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-34865 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Netgear R6220 Firmware, published on 25 Jan 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-34865 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Netgear R6220 Firmware. 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-2021-34865/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34865/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-34865
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-34865
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-34865

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34865/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.