# CVE-2023-35721: NETGEAR Multiple Routers curl_post Improper Certificate Validation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> Network-adjacent attackers can bypass certificate validation in router updates to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 3 May 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-72x5-8v8j-3pmx

## What is CVE-2023-35721?

CVE-2023-35721 is a high-severity vulnerability in Netgear Rax50 Firmware, published on 3 May 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NETGEAR Multiple Routers curl_post Improper Certificate Validation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to compromise the integrity of downloaded information on affected installations of multiple NETGEAR routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the update functionality, which operates over HTTPS. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the certificate presented by the server. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-19981.

Weakness: CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-35721?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgear Rax50 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-35721?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-35721 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-35721 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-35721 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Netgear Rax50 Firmware

- [CVE-2024-57229](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57229/): Command injection in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-57230](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57230/): Command injection in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-57231](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57231/): Command injection in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-57232](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57232/): Command injection in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2024-57233](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-57233/): Command injection in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-35721 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-35721 is a high-severity vulnerability in Netgear Rax50 Firmware, published on 3 May 2024. 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-2023-35721 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Netgear Rax50 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-2023-35721/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35721/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-35721
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-35721
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-35721

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35721/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.