CVE-2018-21151 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-21151 affecting certain NETGEAR devices with buffer overflow vulnerability. Find out impacted systems, exploitation risks, and mitigation steps.
Some models of NETGEAR devices are vulnerable to a buffer overflow issue when accessed by an authorized user.
Understanding CVE-2018-21151
What is CVE-2018-21151?
The CVE-2018-21151 vulnerability affects certain NETGEAR devices, including D7800, R7500v2, R7800, R8900, R9000, WNDR4300v2, and WNDR4500v3, before specific firmware versions.
The Impact of CVE-2018-21151
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 6.8, indicating a medium severity issue with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-21151
Vulnerability Description
The buffer overflow vulnerability allows an authenticated user to trigger the issue on affected NETGEAR devices.
Affected Systems and Versions
- D7800 versions prior to 1.0.1.34
- R7500v2 versions prior to 1.0.3.26
- R7800 versions prior to 1.0.2.42
- R8900 versions prior to 1.0.3.10
- R9000 versions prior to 1.0.3.10
- WNDR4300v2 versions prior to 1.0.0.54
- WNDR4500v3 versions prior to 1.0.0.54
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with high privileges through an adjacent network without requiring user interaction.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update the firmware of the affected devices to the patched versions.
- Restrict network access to vulnerable devices.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update firmware and security patches.
- Implement network segmentation to isolate critical devices.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing periodically.
Patching and Updates
Apply the latest firmware updates provided by NETGEAR to address the CVE-2018-21151 vulnerability.