CVE-2018-21211 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An unauthenticated attacker can exploit a buffer overflow vulnerability in several NETGEAR devices.

Understanding CVE-2018-21211

What is CVE-2018-21211?

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to compromise the devices.

The Impact of CVE-2018-21211

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-21211

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger a buffer overflow in various NETGEAR devices, potentially leading to remote code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

D3600 (prior to version 1.0.0.67)
D6000 (prior to version 1.0.0.67)
D6100 (prior to version 1.0.0.56)
D7800 (prior to version 1.0.1.30)
R7500 (prior to version 1.0.0.118)
R7500v2 (prior to version 1.0.3.24)
R7800 (prior to version 1.0.2.40)
R9000 (prior to version 1.0.2.52)
WNDR3700v4 (prior to version 1.0.2.96)
WNDR4300 (prior to version 1.0.2.98)
WNDR4300v2 (prior to version 1.0.0.50)
WNDR4500v3 (prior to version 1.0.0.50)
WNR2000v5 (prior to version 1.0.0.62)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker through a buffer overflow, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control of the affected devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by NETGEAR for the affected devices.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all NETGEAR devices are running the latest firmware versions to mitigate the buffer overflow vulnerability.