Cyber Resilience

CVE-2021-27273

RCE in Netgear Prosafe Network Management System 1.6.0.26

High EPSSRCECommand Injection
Published
29 March 2021
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.65 99.2th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2021-27273 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Netgear Prosafe Network Management System. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A05:2025 Injection

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

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…

more

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.

CWE(s)
CWE-78

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
Remote code execution via unauthenticated bypass on a network management web application directly enables exploitation of a public-facing service.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell Executionconfidence: HIGH
The flaw allows arbitrary system command execution through an improperly validated fileName parameter passed to a system call.
attack.mitre.org →
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalationconfidence: HIGH
Successful exploitation grants SYSTEM-level privileges, constituting privilege escalation via the OS command injection.
attack.mitre.org →
T1078.003 Local Accounts Stealthconfidence: MEDIUM
Bypassing the existing authentication mechanism to reach the vulnerable controller may involve abuse of valid local accounts or session tokens.
attack.mitre.org →
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-49693Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-44450Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-49694Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-38101Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-38098Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-38099Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-38102Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-38096Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2023-41182Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System
CVE-2024-5247Same product: Netgear Prosafe Network Management System

Affected Assets

netgear
prosafe network management system
1.6.0.26

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V15.2.5

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

SC-27 Platform-independent Applications
addresses: CWE-78

Platform-independent apps typically execute inside a managed runtime or sandbox that restricts direct OS command execution, reducing the ability to exploit OS command injection.

SI-10 Information Input Validation
addresses: CWE-78

Validates inputs to block special elements that would alter OS command execution.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly require secure coding and input handling that blocks command-injection defects, yet the single broad outcome leaves many specific neutralization vectors and verification gaps unaddressed.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching/maintenance can remediate known command-injection CVEs in dependencies (partial forward) but does nothing to stop developers from introducing improper neutralization in custom code (none reverse).

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
detects

Security testing and code review target insecure use of operating-system command interfaces, catching command-injection flaws introduced during development.

References