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CVE Record

CVE-2017-18738: Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a stack-based buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker.

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by a stack-based buffer overflow by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects EX6150v2 before 1.0.1.54, R6400 before 1.0.1.24, R6400v2 before 1.0.2.32, R6700 before 1.0.1.22, R6900 before 1.0.1.22, R7000 before 1.0.9.10, R7000P before 1.2.0.22, R6900P before 1.2.0.22, R7100LG before 1.0.0.32, R7300DST before 1.0.0.54, R7900 before 1.0.1.18, R8000 before 1.0.3.48, R8300 before 1.0.2.106, R8500 before 1.0.2.106, R6100 before 1.0.1.16, WNDR4300v2 before 1.0.0.48, WNDR4500v3 before 1.0.0.48, and WNR2000v5 before 1.0.0.58.

HighCVSS 8.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE is a pre-authentication stack overflow in certain NETGEAR routers and extenders. An unauthenticated attacker on the affected network path could potentially compromise device security or disrupt availability. The business issue is perimeter and branch-network equipment exposure, especially older firmware still in service.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for environments still using the named NETGEAR devices. It affects network infrastructure, requires no authentication, and has high potential impact, but the supplied sources do not prove active exploitation.

Technical view

CVE-2017-18738 affects specific NETGEAR models running firmware below vendor-listed fixed versions. The CVSS 3.0 score is 8.8 high with low attack complexity, adjacent-network attack vector, no privileges, and no user interaction. Impact is rated high for confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely where listed NETGEAR models remain deployed with firmware below the fixed versions. Affected devices include EX6150v2, R6xxx/R7xxx/R8xxx models, WNDR4300v2, WNDR4500v3, and WNR2000v5 variants named in the CVE.

Exploitation context

The provided sources describe unauthenticated pre-authentication impact but do not state active exploitation. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, so active exploitation should not be assumed from this evidence alone.

Researcher notes

The CVE record lists vendor-fixed firmware thresholds for each affected model. The source bundle does not identify a specific vulnerable endpoint, exploit method, CWE, or detailed root-cause analysis beyond stack-based buffer overflow and pre-authentication context.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected NETGEAR devices to the fixed firmware versions listed by the vendor.
  • Remove or replace devices that cannot be updated to a vendor-supported fixed release.
  • Restrict management access to trusted networks only.
  • Reduce exposure from guest, public, and untrusted adjacent networks.
  • Check NETGEAR advisory guidance for model-specific instructions.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory deployed NETGEAR routers and extenders by exact model and firmware version.
  • Compare each device against the affected model and fixed-version list.
  • Confirm vulnerable devices are upgraded, retired, or isolated.
  • Verify management interfaces are not reachable from untrusted network segments.
  • Record compensating controls for devices awaiting remediation.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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CVE-2017-18738 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
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

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
8.8CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N2.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

8.8High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2017-18738Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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