CVE-2024-52013 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in multiple Netgear router models: R8500 v1.0.2.160, XR300 v1.0.3.78, R7000P v1.3.3.154, and R6400 v2 1.0.4.128. The vulnerability resides in the wiz_pptp.cgi component, specifically in the processing of the pptp_user_ip parameter. When a specially crafted POST request is sent to this CGI endpoint, the router fails to properly validate input length, leading to a stack overflow condition. This overflow can cause the device to crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability requires low complexity to exploit but does require some level of privileges (PR:L) and does not require user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.7, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the impact being limited to availability (A:H) without affecting confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been released yet. The underlying weakness corresponds to CWE-120, a classic stack-based buffer overflow, which can be leveraged to disrupt device operation remotely. This vulnerability highlights the risks associated with embedded device CGI interfaces that do not adequately sanitize input parameters.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-52013 is denial of service, which can disrupt network connectivity and availability for organizations relying on the affected Netgear routers. This could lead to temporary loss of internet access, interruption of business operations, and potential cascading effects on dependent services. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data theft or manipulation is not a direct concern. However, the loss of availability in critical network infrastructure can have significant operational and financial consequences, especially for small and medium enterprises or home office environments that use these consumer-grade routers. The requirement for some privilege level reduces the risk somewhat but does not eliminate it, as attackers may gain access through other means such as compromised credentials or insider threats. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently lowers immediate risk, but the presence of a publicly disclosed vulnerability may encourage attackers to develop exploits. Organizations with these router models should consider the potential for service disruption and plan accordingly.

1. Immediately check for firmware updates from Netgear for the affected models and apply any available patches addressing this vulnerability. 2. If patches are not yet available, restrict access to the router management interfaces, especially the CGI endpoints, by limiting network exposure through firewall rules or network segmentation. 3. Disable PPTP VPN functionality if it is not in use, as this reduces the attack surface related to the vulnerable parameter. 4. Monitor router logs and network traffic for unusual POST requests targeting wiz_pptp.cgi or other suspicious activity. 5. Enforce strong authentication and credential management to prevent unauthorized access that could enable exploitation. 6. Consider deploying network-level intrusion detection or prevention systems (IDS/IPS) that can detect and block malformed POST requests targeting this vulnerability. 7. Plan for rapid incident response to restore service availability in case of exploitation, including router reboot procedures and backup configurations. 8. Educate network administrators about the vulnerability and the importance of minimizing exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks.