Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-21175 is a post-authentication stack overflow in several NETGEAR routers and gateways. An attacker would need authenticated access, but successful exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the device. Treat this as important for environments still running listed legacy firmware.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for internet-edge, office, lab, or remote-site networks still using affected NETGEAR devices. This is not presented as actively exploited, but the potential device-control impact justifies timely patching or replacement.
Technical view
The CVE describes a stack-based buffer overflow reachable by an authenticated user on specified NETGEAR D6100, R6100, R7800, R9000, WNDR, and WNR models before listed firmware versions. CVSS v3.0 is 6.8 with low attack complexity, high privileges required, adjacent attack vector, no user interaction, and high impact ratings.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where the listed NETGEAR models remain deployed with firmware older than the fixed versions. Risk is higher when administrative access is broadly available on local or adjacent networks. The bundle does not provide CPEs or detailed deployment prevalence.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is post-authentication, so stolen, weak, shared, or overprivileged router credentials would materially increase practical risk.
Researcher notes
The bundle names affected firmware thresholds but does not include a CWE entry, exploit details, or proof of active exploitation. Research and validation should stay focused on authenticated administrative exposure, precise firmware comparison, and vendor advisory confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory listed NETGEAR models and record firmware versions.
- Upgrade to the fixed versions named by NETGEAR or later.
- Limit router administration to trusted administrators and management networks.
- Replace devices that cannot receive vendor-supported firmware.
- Monitor NETGEAR guidance for model-specific remediation details.
Validation and detection
- Verify each device model against the CVE affected model list.
- Compare installed firmware with the fixed version thresholds.
- Confirm administrative interfaces are not broadly reachable.
- Review privileged router accounts for necessity and strength.
- After updating, recheck firmware and administrative access controls.
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-2018-21175 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/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:H/S:U/UI:N0.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
6.8MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:A/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/S:U/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kb.netgear.com/000055183/Security-Advisory-for-Post-Authentication-Stack-Overflow-on-Some-Routers-and-Gateways-PSV-2017-2624CVE 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.