# CVE-2021-45494: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can read arbitrary files on NETGEAR mesh routers, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data.

- **Severity:** High 8.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/S:C/UI:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 26 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vq22-4g75-mf6j

## What is CVE-2021-45494?

CVE-2021-45494 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Dec 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by an attacker's ability to read arbitrary files. This affects RBK352 before 4.4.0.10, RBR350 before 4.4.0.10, and RBS350 before 4.4.0.10.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-45494?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Netgear Rbk352 Firmware, Netgear Rbr350 Firmware, Netgear Rbs350 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-45494?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-45494 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-45494 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-45494 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-45520](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45520/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-45652](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45652/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2021-45521](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45521/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2021-45653](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45653/): Information disclosure in n/a (low 3.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-45494 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-45494 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Dec 2021. 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-2021-45494 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2021-45494/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45494/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-45494
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45494
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-45494

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45494/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.