Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Some NETGEAR router firmware versions allowed an already-authenticated user to inject operating-system commands. The listed models have high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact if abused, but the CVSS vector requires high privileges and high attack complexity. No source in the bundle states active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize during normal edge-device patching, especially for routers exposed to many administrators or remote management workflows. The impact is high if exploited, but available evidence shows authentication and high complexity requirements and no confirmed active exploitation in the provided sources.
Technical view
CVE-2021-38520 is a post-authentication command injection issue affecting specified NETGEAR R6400, R6400v2, R6700v2, R6700v3, R6900v2, and R7000P firmware before listed versions. CVSS 3.1 is 6.6 with AV:N, AC:H, PR:H, UI:N, and high C/I/A impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected NETGEAR router models remain on firmware below the stated fixed versions. Risk is higher when router management is reachable by untrusted authenticated users or where administrator credentials may be shared, weak, or compromised.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not include KEV status or any cited evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. Abuse requires authentication with high privileges and no user interaction, with high attack complexity. Treat it as important hygiene for managed edge devices, not as a confirmed emergency exploitation event.
Researcher notes
The public CVE record gives model and version boundaries but no CWE, exploit detail, or affected CPEs in the supplied data. Analysis should avoid assuming unauthenticated exposure or specific attack paths. Validation should focus on firmware inventory and administrative access conditions.
Mitigation direction
- Check NETGEAR advisory PSV-2018-0565 for model-specific firmware guidance.
- Upgrade R6400 to firmware 1.0.1.52 or later.
- Upgrade R6400v2 or R6700v3 to 1.0.4.84 or later.
- Upgrade R6700v2 or R6900v2 to 1.2.0.62 or later.
- Upgrade R7000P to 1.3.2.124 or later.
- Restrict router administration to trusted administrators while firmware status is verified.
Validation and detection
- Inventory NETGEAR R6400, R6400v2, R6700v2, R6700v3, R6900v2, and R7000P devices.
- Compare each router firmware version against the CVE fixed-version thresholds.
- Confirm administrator access is limited to expected trusted users.
- Review change records to verify firmware updates completed successfully.
- Check the NETGEAR advisory for any newer vendor instructions.
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-2021-38520 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
- 6.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AC:H/AV:N/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:3.1/AC:H/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/S:U/UI:N0.75.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.6MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AC:H/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:H/S:U/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kb.netgear.com/000063763/Security-Advisory-for-Post-Authentication-Command-Injection-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2018-0565CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.