Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-21113 is a pre-authentication command injection issue in listed NETGEAR routers and modem routers. An unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network could potentially run commands on vulnerable devices, risking confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority network edge remediation item. It can affect core connectivity devices and may allow unauthenticated command execution, but the provided sources do not confirm active exploitation.
Technical view
The CVE describes unauthenticated command injection affecting specific NETGEAR D-series, R-series, and WNDR models before named firmware versions. CVSS 3.0 is 8.8 with adjacent-network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected NETGEAR devices remain on firmware below the versions listed in the CVE record, especially if administrative or vulnerable services are reachable from adjacent networks.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The risk remains material because the issue is pre-authentication, low-complexity command injection on network edge equipment.
Researcher notes
Affected products are listed in the CVE narrative, while structured affected CPE data is not populated in the bundle. No CWE is provided. Validate only by version and exposure review; avoid intrusive testing unless authorized.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory NETGEAR models named in the CVE description.
- Upgrade affected devices to the listed fixed firmware versions or later.
- Check NETGEAR advisory PSV-2018-0033 for device-specific guidance.
- Restrict management access to trusted internal networks where possible.
- Replace devices if supported firmware is unavailable.
Validation and detection
- Compare device model and firmware against the CVE affected-version list.
- Confirm vulnerable models are no longer running pre-fix firmware.
- Review whether management interfaces are reachable from adjacent or untrusted networks.
- Record remediation status for each affected router or modem router.
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-2018-21113 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/000060438/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Command-Injection-on-Some-Routers-and-Modem-Routers-PSV-2018-0033CVE 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.