Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
NETGEAR R7800 routers running firmware before 1.0.2.60 can allow an authenticated user to inject operating-system commands. This could let a user with limited access take much broader control of the device, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for any organization still operating R7800 routers. The attacker needs authentication and nearby network access, but router compromise can expose traffic, disrupt connectivity, or enable further internal activity.
Technical view
CVE-2018-21101 is a post-authentication command injection issue in NETGEAR R7800 firmware before 1.0.2.60. The CVSS 3.0 vector is AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning adjacent-network access and low privileges are required, with high impact after exploitation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to NETGEAR R7800 devices on firmware earlier than 1.0.2.60, especially where management access is reachable from local or adjacent networks and non-admin authenticated users exist.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or public active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is constrained by the need for adjacent-network access and valid authentication, but successful abuse could fully compromise the router.
Researcher notes
The public bundle provides device, version boundary, CVSS, and vendor advisory, but no CWE, CPEs, endpoint details, proof-of-concept status, or telemetry. Avoid assuming broader NETGEAR model impact without additional vendor evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all NETGEAR R7800 devices and record firmware versions.
- Upgrade R7800 firmware to 1.0.2.60 or later, following NETGEAR guidance.
- Restrict router management access to trusted administrative networks.
- Review and remove unnecessary router user accounts.
- Monitor vendor advisories for any newer R7800 security updates.
Validation and detection
- Confirm each R7800 reports firmware version 1.0.2.60 or later.
- Verify management interfaces are not exposed beyond trusted networks.
- Review router accounts for weak, shared, or unnecessary credentials.
- Check available logs for unexpected configuration or administrative changes.
- Document exceptions where upgrade cannot be immediately completed.
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.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-21101 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 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:L/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:L/S:U/UI:N2.15.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:L/S:U/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kb.netgear.com/000060449/Security-Advisory-for-Post-Authentication-Command-Injection-on-R7800-PSV-2018-0380CVE 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.