Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-38925

Memory Safety in Netgear Dc112A Firmware 1.0.0.64

Published
07 August 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.15 96th percentile
Risk Priority 79 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-38925 is a high-severity Classic Buffer Overflow (CWE-120) vulnerability in Netgear Dc112A Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Netgear devices including the DC112A running firmware 1.0.0.64, the EX6200 at 1.0.3.94, and the R6300v2 at 1.0.4.8 contain a buffer overflow in the http_passwd parameter processed by password.cgi. The flaw is tracked as CWE-120 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8, reflecting network-reachable exploitation that requires only low privileges and no user interaction.

An authenticated attacker can supply an oversized value to the affected parameter and trigger memory corruption, resulting in arbitrary code execution with full control over the device’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Because the vulnerable endpoint is reachable over the network, the attack can be launched remotely once valid credentials are obtained.

Public references point to Netgear’s security disclosure page and a technical write-up containing proof-of-concept details. The current EPSS score of 0.2957 matches its recorded peak, indicating sustained but not sharply increasing exploitation interest since disclosure.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Netgear DC112A 1.0.0.64, EX6200 1.0.3.94 and R6300v2 1.0.4.8 were discovered to contain a buffer overflow via the http_passwd parameter in password.cgi.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-38926Same product: Netgear Ex6200
CVE-2024-50995Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2023-34563Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-51003Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-52025Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2025-29044Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-50994Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-52015Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-51012Same vendor: Netgear
CVE-2024-52013Same vendor: Netgear

Affected Assets

netgear
dc112a firmware
1.0.0.64
netgear
ex6200 firmware
1.0.3.94
netgear
r6300v2 firmware
1.0.4.8

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.2.1

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-120

Platform-independent managed code eliminates the need for unchecked native buffer copies that are the root cause of classic buffer overflows.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure development practices directly enforce bounds checking and input validation that prevent classic buffer overflows.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification processes such as code review or scanning detect classic buffer overflows before exploitation.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching replaces vulnerable code containing unchecked buffer copies with corrected versions.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Secure coding directly requires bounds-checked memory operations, addressing the root cause of CWE-120.

finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect buffer overflows through fuzzing and static analysis, though it does not prevent them at the source.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates processes that can include input validation and bounds checking to prevent buffer overflows.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify input-size validation and safe buffer handling to mitigate classic buffer overflows.

prevents

Secure system architecture and engineering principles promote defensive coding patterns that reduce the likelihood of unchecked buffer copies.

References