Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-38526 is a pre-authentication buffer overflow in certain NETGEAR routers. It affects RAX35, RAX38, and RAX40 devices running firmware before 1.0.3.94. The recorded impact is limited to availability, not data theft or modification.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate operational risk for affected branch, home-office, or small-office routers. Prioritize firmware updates where these devices support business connectivity or share networks with untrusted users.
Technical view
The CVSS 3.1 vector is AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L, scoring 4.3. An unauthenticated adjacent-network attacker may trigger a buffer overflow affecting availability on specified NETGEAR router firmware versions below 1.0.3.94.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to organizations using NETGEAR RAX35, RAX38, or RAX40 routers on firmware older than 1.0.3.94, especially where untrusted users can reach the same local or adjacent network.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates adjacent-network reachability, low attack complexity, no authentication, no user interaction, and low availability impact only.
Researcher notes
The public bundle does not provide packet paths, crash conditions, affected services, or proof-of-concept details. Analysis should stay version- and model-focused unless NETGEAR publishes deeper technical guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory NETGEAR RAX35, RAX38, and RAX40 routers.
- Upgrade affected devices to firmware 1.0.3.94 or later.
- Review the NETGEAR advisory for model-specific update guidance.
- Restrict untrusted adjacent-network access to router management surfaces.
- Replace unsupported devices if vendor-supported firmware is unavailable.
Validation and detection
- Confirm router model and firmware version from asset records or administration interface.
- Flag RAX35, RAX38, and RAX40 firmware below 1.0.3.94.
- Verify updated devices report firmware 1.0.3.94 or later.
- Check network segmentation for untrusted adjacent access paths.
- Document any devices awaiting update or replacement.
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-2021-38526 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
- 4.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:A/A:L/C:N/I:N/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:3.1/AC:L/AV:A/A:L/C:N/I:N/PR:N/S:U/UI:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AC:L/AV:A/A:L/C:N/I:N/PR:N/S:U/UI:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://kb.netgear.com/000063782/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Buffer-Overflow-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2020-0416CVE 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.