CVE-2018-21224

Device compromise via undisclosed pre-authentication buffer overflow

Published Apr 28, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Pre-authentication buffer overflow in NETGEAR router and gateway firmware allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to compromise affected devices. NETGEAR identifies the flaw only as a pre-authentication buffer overflow and has not published the affected component, input path, or faulty copy operation. Exploitation requires network adjacency but no credentials or user interaction; the resulting device behavior remains undisclosed.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.73%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Pre-authentication buffer overflow in NETGEAR router and gateway firmware allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to compromise affected devices. NETGEAR identifies the flaw only as a pre-authentication buffer overflow and has not published the affected component, input path, or faulty copy operation. Exploitation requires network adjacency but no credentials or user interaction; the resulting device behavior remains undisclosed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-21224
Published
Apr 28, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 28, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NETGEARCVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.8NIST NVDAV:A/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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