CVE-2020-26919 Overview
NETGEAR JGS516PE devices before firmware version 2.6.0.43 are affected by a critical lack of access control at the function level. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access administrative functions without proper authorization, potentially leading to complete device compromise.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and has been added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Attackers can gain full administrative control over affected network switches without authentication, enabling network manipulation, traffic interception, and lateral movement.
Affected Products
- NETGEAR JGS516PE Firmware (versions prior to 2.6.0.43)
- NETGEAR JGS516PE 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet PoE Smart Managed Plus Switch
Discovery Timeline
- 2020-10-09 - CVE-2020-26919 published to NVD
- 2025-11-07 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2020-26919
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability represents a critical missing function level access control flaw in the NETGEAR JGS516PE network switch. The device fails to properly validate user authentication and authorization before executing administrative functions. This architectural security weakness allows any network-accessible attacker to invoke privileged operations that should be restricted to authenticated administrators only.
The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these managed switches control network segmentation, VLAN configurations, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) settings. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to modify switch configurations, intercept network traffic, disable security features, or cause denial of service conditions.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the absence of proper access control checks at the function level within the device's web management interface. The firmware fails to verify that incoming requests originate from authenticated and authorized users before processing administrative commands. This allows any unauthenticated network user to directly invoke sensitive management functions.
Attack Vector
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker with network access to the management interface of the JGS516PE switch can send specially crafted requests to administrative endpoints. Since the device does not enforce access controls, these requests are processed with full administrative privileges.
The vulnerability is exploitable through:
- Direct HTTP/HTTPS requests to the management web interface
- Automated scanning tools that probe for administrative endpoints
- Network-based attacks from any device on the same network segment as the management interface
Detection Methods for CVE-2020-26919
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected configuration changes on NETGEAR JGS516PE switches
- Unauthorized access logs showing requests to administrative endpoints without prior authentication
- Modified VLAN configurations or port settings without administrator action
- Unusual network traffic patterns originating from or through the affected switch
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic for HTTP/HTTPS requests to NETGEAR switch management interfaces from untrusted sources
- Implement network segmentation to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces
- Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for NETGEAR device exploitation attempts
- Audit switch configurations regularly to detect unauthorized modifications
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable logging on all NETGEAR managed switches and forward logs to a centralized SIEM
- Monitor for bulk configuration queries or changes from unexpected IP addresses
- Implement alerting for access to management interfaces outside of maintenance windows
- Track firmware versions across all network infrastructure devices
How to Mitigate CVE-2020-26919
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade NETGEAR JGS516PE firmware to version 2.6.0.43 or later immediately
- Isolate affected switches on a dedicated management VLAN with strict access controls
- Restrict management interface access to trusted IP addresses using firewall rules
- Disable remote management access if not required for operations
Patch Information
NETGEAR has released firmware version 2.6.0.43 to address this vulnerability. Administrators should download the patched firmware from the official Netgear Security Advisory PSV-2020-0377 and apply it to all affected devices. Due to the critical nature of this vulnerability and its inclusion in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, patching should be prioritized as an emergency action.
Workarounds
- Implement network segmentation to restrict access to switch management interfaces
- Use firewall rules to limit management access to specific trusted administrator IP addresses only
- Disable web-based management and use console access where feasible
- Enable any available authentication mechanisms and ensure strong credentials are configured
# Example network segmentation configuration (firewall rules)
# Restrict access to NETGEAR switch management interface (example IP: 192.168.1.100)
# Allow only from trusted admin workstation (192.168.10.5)
iptables -A FORWARD -s 192.168.10.5 -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -s 192.168.10.5 -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
