CVE-2026-0405 identifies an authentication bypass vulnerability in the NETGEAR Orbi RBE970 router model. The flaw is categorized under CWE-287, indicating improper authentication mechanisms. Specifically, any user connected to the local network can bypass authentication controls and gain administrative access to the router's web interface. This bypass means that the router does not adequately verify credentials or session validity before granting admin-level access. The vulnerability requires only local network access (Attack Vector: Adjacent), with low attack complexity and no user interaction needed. The attacker must have at least low privileges on the local network but does not need to authenticate to the device. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high since an attacker can alter router configurations, potentially redirect traffic, disable security features, or create persistent backdoors. The CVSS 4.0 score of 6.1 reflects a medium severity, considering the local network access requirement and lack of known exploits. No patches or mitigations have been officially released by NETGEAR as of the publication date. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where local network access is shared or insufficiently segmented, such as corporate guest networks or poorly secured Wi-Fi. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could compromise network security, intercept sensitive data, or disrupt services by manipulating router settings.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security, especially in enterprises, educational institutions, and public sector environments where NETGEAR Orbi RBE970 devices are deployed. Unauthorized administrative access to routers can lead to interception of sensitive communications, unauthorized changes to firewall rules, DNS hijacking, or complete network disruption. The impact is exacerbated in organizations with flat network architectures or weak internal segmentation, where local network access is easier to obtain. Critical infrastructure sectors relying on these devices for connectivity could face operational disruptions or data breaches. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within networks, enabling attackers to escalate privileges or access other internal resources. The lack of available patches increases exposure time, making proactive mitigation essential. European data protection regulations, such as GDPR, also impose strict requirements on protecting network infrastructure, meaning exploitation could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

1. Immediately restrict local network access to trusted users only, employing network segmentation and VLANs to isolate management interfaces. 2. Disable remote management features on the router if not required, and restrict web interface access to specific IP addresses or subnets. 3. Monitor router logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or configuration changes. 4. Implement strong internal network access controls, including 802.1X authentication and NAC solutions, to limit unauthorized device connections. 5. Use network intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect attempts to access router management interfaces. 6. Regularly audit and update router firmware; apply vendor patches as soon as they become available. 7. Consider replacing vulnerable devices with models that have robust authentication mechanisms if patches are delayed. 8. Educate network administrators and users about the risks of local network access and enforce strict physical and logical access controls. 9. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) for router management interfaces if supported by the device or via external management solutions.