Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-21213 is a pre-authentication buffer overflow in specific NETGEAR routers and gateways. An unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network could trigger serious compromise or disruption. The source bundle lists fixed firmware thresholds for each affected model.
Executive priority
High priority where listed NETGEAR routers or gateways remain deployed. Remediation should focus on firmware currency and device inventory. The bundle does not support calling this actively exploited.
Technical view
The CVE describes an unauthenticated buffer overflow affecting listed NETGEAR models before specific firmware versions. CVSS 3.0 is 8.8 with adjacent attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations running the named NETGEAR models on firmware older than the listed fixed versions. The CVSS vector indicates adjacent-network reachability, so local LAN, Wi-Fi, or nearby network access matters most.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not cite active exploitation, public exploit code, or CISA KEV listing. Treat this as a high-impact vulnerability with incomplete exploitation evidence, not as confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.
Researcher notes
Affected models include D3600, D6000, D7800, R6100, R7500, R7500v2, R7800, R9000, WNDR3700v4, WNDR4300, WNDR4300v2, and WNDR4500v3 below listed firmware versions. No CWE is provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory the listed NETGEAR models and current firmware versions.
- Upgrade affected devices to firmware at or above the listed fixed versions.
- Use NETGEAR’s advisory for model-specific firmware guidance.
- Replace or isolate devices that cannot receive fixed firmware.
Validation and detection
- Compare device models against the CVE affected list.
- Verify firmware is not older than the listed fixed threshold.
- Confirm affected devices are not reachable from untrusted adjacent networks.
- Document any devices requiring replacement or compensating 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-2018-21213 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/000055124/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Buffer-Overflow-on-Some-Routers-and-Gateways-PSV-2017-2489CVE 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.