CVE-2024-50998 identifies multiple stack overflow vulnerabilities in the Netgear R8500 router firmware version 1.0.2.160, specifically within the openvpn.cgi web interface component. The flaws reside in the handling of the openvpn_service_port and openvpn_service_port_tun parameters, which are used to configure OpenVPN services on the device. An attacker with valid credentials can send a specially crafted POST request to these parameters, triggering a stack overflow condition. This overflow can cause the device to crash or reboot, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) that disrupts network connectivity for users relying on the router. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow), indicating improper bounds checking on input data. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.7, with attack vector being adjacent network (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and impact limited to availability (A:H). No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability poses a risk to network stability in environments using this router model.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-50998 is denial of service, which can disrupt network availability for organizations using the affected Netgear R8500 routers. This can lead to downtime for critical services relying on VPN connectivity, impacting remote access, business continuity, and operational efficiency. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, the risk is higher in environments where attacker access to router management interfaces is possible, such as poorly secured internal networks or compromised credentials. The lack of impact on confidentiality and integrity reduces the risk of data breaches or unauthorized data modification. However, the disruption of network services can have cascading effects on productivity and security monitoring. Organizations with large deployments of this router model, especially in remote or branch office scenarios, may face significant operational challenges if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2024-50998, organizations should first verify if they are using the Netgear R8500 router with firmware version 1.0.2.160. Since no official patch is currently available, interim mitigations include restricting access to the router’s management interface to trusted networks and users only, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for unusual POST requests targeting openvpn.cgi endpoints. Network segmentation can limit the exposure of the router’s management interface to potential attackers. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling OpenVPN services on the router if not in use or replacing the affected device with a model that has received security updates. Regularly checking Netgear’s security advisories for patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability is critical. Implementing network-level intrusion detection systems to flag anomalous traffic patterns targeting the router’s web interface can provide early warning of exploitation attempts.