CVE-2024-51000 identifies multiple stack overflow vulnerabilities in the wireless.cgi component of the Netgear R8500 router firmware version 1.0.2.160. The vulnerabilities reside in the handling of the opmode, opmode_an, and opmode_an_2 parameters, which are accessible via POST requests to the wireless.cgi interface. An attacker with valid credentials can craft POST requests that overflow the stack buffer, leading to a denial of service by crashing or rebooting the device. The CVE is classified under CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow). The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.7, reflecting medium severity, with attack vector as adjacent network, low attack complexity, requiring privileges, and no user interaction. The impact is limited to availability, with no confidentiality or integrity compromise. No public exploits or patches are currently available, and the vulnerability was published on November 5, 2024. This vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt network availability in environments relying on this router model.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-51000 is denial of service, which can disrupt network connectivity for organizations using the affected Netgear R8500 routers. This can lead to temporary loss of internet access or internal network communication, affecting business operations, especially in small to medium enterprises or home office environments where this router is commonly deployed. Since the vulnerability requires authentication, the risk is somewhat mitigated by existing access controls, but insider threats or compromised credentials could enable exploitation. The lack of confidentiality or integrity impact reduces the risk of data breaches or manipulation. However, repeated exploitation could degrade network reliability and availability, potentially affecting critical services dependent on stable connectivity.

Organizations should immediately audit their network to identify the presence of Netgear R8500 routers running firmware version 1.0.2.160. Restrict administrative access to trusted personnel and networks, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms and monitoring for unusual POST requests targeting wireless.cgi. Network segmentation can limit exposure to adjacent network attacks. Since no patches are currently available, consider temporary mitigations such as disabling remote management interfaces or restricting access to the wireless.cgi endpoint via firewall rules. Monitor vendor communications for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply patches promptly once released. Additionally, implement logging and alerting for anomalous POST requests to the affected parameters to detect potential exploitation attempts early.