CVE-2021-38515 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2021-38515 impacting certain NETGEAR routers. Explore the technical details, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps for this denial of service vulnerability.
A denial of service vulnerability has been identified in certain NETGEAR devices. This CVE affects R6400v2, R6700v3, R7900, and R8000 models.
Understanding CVE-2021-38515
This section provides insights into the nature of the vulnerability and its impact.
What is CVE-2021-38515?
The CVE-2021-38515 vulnerability pertains to denial of service issues in specific NETGEAR routers: R6400v2, R6700v3, R7900, and R8000. Hackers can exploit this flaw to disrupt the availability of affected devices.
The Impact of CVE-2021-38515
NETGEAR routers running outdated firmware versions are susceptible to denial of service attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to render the routers unavailable, impacting network operations and connectivity.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-38515
This section delves deeper into the specifics of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows bad actors to launch denial of service attacks on NETGEAR routers, including R6400v2, R6700v3, R7900, and R8000, by leveraging certain methods. It affects devices running firmware versions older than R6400v2 1.0.4.98, R6700v3 1.0.4.98, R7900 1.0.3.18, and R8000 1.0.4.46.
Affected Systems and Versions
NETGEAR R6400v2, R6700v3, R7900, and R8000 routers are impacted by this vulnerability when running firmware versions prior to R6400v2 1.0.4.98, R6700v3 1.0.4.98, R7900 1.0.3.18, and R8000 1.0.4.46, respectively.
Exploitation Mechanism
By sending crafted network requests to vulnerable NETGEAR routers, threat actors can trigger denial of service conditions, disrupting the devices' normal operations and availability.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines measures to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-38515.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users of affected NETGEAR routers are advised to update their devices to the latest firmware versions provided by NETGEAR to address this vulnerability promptly.
Long-Term Security Practices
To enhance overall network security, it is recommended to regularly update router firmware, implement network segmentation, and deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems.
Patching and Updates
NETGEAR has released patches to remediate CVE-2021-38515. Users should apply the latest firmware updates from the NETGEAR website to protect their devices from potential exploitation and ensure network security.