CVE-2021-38524

Availability loss via undisclosed stack-buffer overwrite

Published Aug 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Stack-based buffer overflow in NETGEAR router and WiFi-system firmware allows remote authenticated users to interrupt device availability. NETGEAR has not disclosed the affected handler or the operation that overwrites stack memory with attacker-controlled data. Exploitation requires high privileges and adjacent-network access; the published impact is limited to availability, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity4.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in NETGEAR router and WiFi-system firmware allows remote authenticated users to interrupt device availability. NETGEAR has not disclosed the affected handler or the operation that overwrites stack memory with attacker-controlled data. Exploitation requires high privileges and adjacent-network access; the published impact is limited to availability, with no reported data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38524
Published
Aug 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P
4.5NETGEARCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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