Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some NETGEAR routers have a pre-authentication stack overflow that an unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network could abuse. Successful compromise could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The business risk is highest where affected router models still run older firmware.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for any still-deployed affected router. This is an older issue, but network edge and office routing equipment often persists for years and can create high-impact compromise paths if left unpatched.
Technical view
CVE-2017-18726 is a stack-based buffer overflow in specified NETGEAR router models before fixed firmware versions. The CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating adjacent-network reachability, low attack complexity, no privileges, and high impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to R6020, R6080, R6700v2, R6800, and R6900v2 devices below the fixed versions named in the CVE record. The bundle does not identify other products or internet-wide exposure.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Treat this as a serious legacy router issue because it is unauthenticated, low-complexity, and can affect core network equipment.
Researcher notes
Available evidence identifies affected models and fixed version thresholds, but not root-cause detail, vulnerable interface, or exploit activity. Avoid broad product assumptions beyond the listed NETGEAR models.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade R6020 and R6080 to firmware 1.0.0.30 or later.
- Upgrade R6700v2, R6800, and R6900v2 to firmware 1.1.0.42 or later.
- Use NETGEAR advisory guidance to confirm correct firmware for each exact model.
- Prioritize replacement if affected hardware cannot receive supported firmware.
- Limit administrative exposure while validating firmware status.
Validation and detection
- Inventory NETGEAR router models across offices, labs, and remote sites.
- Record each device firmware version and compare against the fixed versions.
- Confirm whether any affected routers remain on adjacent or user-accessible networks.
- Review NETGEAR advisory and CVE record before closing remediation tickets.
- Document non-applicable devices by exact model and firmware evidence.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2017-18726 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kb.netgear.com/000051529/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Stack-Overflow-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2017-2139CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.