CVE-2018-21203 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-21203 affecting NETGEAR routers. Discover the impact, affected systems, exploitation details, and mitigation steps to secure your devices against this critical vulnerability.
NETGEAR devices are vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit certain models. This CVE affects R6100, R9000, WNDR3700v4, WNDR4300, WNDR4300v2, and WNDR4500v3.
Understanding CVE-2018-21203
This CVE involves a critical vulnerability in NETGEAR devices that can be exploited by attackers without authentication.
What is CVE-2018-21203?
The CVE-2018-21203 vulnerability targets specific NETGEAR router models through a stack-based buffer overflow, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code.
The Impact of CVE-2018-21203
The impact of this CVE is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 8.8. It poses a significant threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected devices.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-21203
This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow on NETGEAR routers, potentially leading to remote code execution.
Affected Systems and Versions
The following NETGEAR devices are affected:
- R6100 (version earlier than 1.0.1.20)
- R9000 (version earlier than 1.0.2.52)
- WNDR3700v4 (version earlier than 1.0.2.96)
- WNDR4300 (version earlier than 1.0.2.98)
- WNDR4300v2 (version earlier than 1.0.0.50)
- WNDR4500v3 (version earlier than 1.0.0.50)
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted packets to the affected devices, triggering the buffer overflow and potentially gaining unauthorized access.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting against CVE-2018-21203 is crucial to safeguard affected NETGEAR devices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update affected devices to the latest firmware versions provided by NETGEAR.
- Implement strong network segmentation to limit exposure to potential attacks.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity targeting vulnerable devices.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update firmware and security patches on NETGEAR routers.
- Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Patching and Updates
NETGEAR has released patches addressing the CVE-2018-21203 vulnerability. Users should promptly apply these patches to secure their devices.