Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-21170 is a high-severity flaw in several older NETGEAR routers and extenders. An unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network could trigger a stack-based buffer overflow, risking device compromise or denial of service. The provided sources do not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority network edge and wireless-adjacent device hygiene issue. Patch or replace affected devices, especially in offices or networks where guests, contractors, or compromised local hosts may be nearby.
Technical view
The CVE describes a pre-authentication stack-based buffer overflow affecting NETGEAR EX2700, R7800, WN2000RPTv3, WN3000RPv3, and WN3100RPv2 below specified firmware versions. CVSS 3.0 is 8.8 with adjacent-network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations using the listed NETGEAR models with firmware older than the fixed versions. The CVSS vector indicates adjacent-network reachability, so wireless or local network proximity matters more than broad internet exposure.
Exploitation context
The source bundle states unauthenticated exploitation is possible, but does not provide exploit maturity, public exploit confirmation, or observed attacks. CISA KEV is false in the supplied data, so active exploitation should not be claimed.
Researcher notes
The affected product list is available in the CVE description, while structured affected CPE data is absent in the supplied bundle. No CWE is listed. Use firmware comparison and model identification rather than CPE-only matching.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory NETGEAR EX2700, R7800, WN2000RPTv3, WN3000RPv3, and WN3100RPv2 devices.
- Upgrade affected devices to the listed fixed firmware versions or later.
- Check the NETGEAR advisory for device-specific update guidance.
- Replace or retire devices that cannot receive supported firmware.
Validation and detection
- Confirm each device model and firmware version from administrative inventory or device management.
- Compare versions against EX2700 1.0.1.28, R7800 1.0.2.40, WN2000RPTv3 1.0.1.20, WN3000RPv3 1.0.2.50, and WN3100RPv2 1.0.0.56.
- Verify updated devices report the fixed firmware version or later.
- Document any affected device that remains unpatched and its network placement.
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-2018-21170 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/000055188/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Stack-Overflow-on-Some-Routers-and-Extenders-PSV-2017-2638CVE 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.