CVE-2024-57440 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the D-Link DSL-3788 revA1 router running firmware version 1.01R1B036_EU_EN. The vulnerability resides in the COMM_MAKECustomMsg function within the webproc CGI component, which processes web requests. A buffer overflow occurs when specially crafted input is sent to this function, leading to memory corruption. This can cause the device to crash or reboot, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction, making it highly accessible to attackers who can reach the device's management interface. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no impact on confidentiality or integrity (C:N/I:N), but high impact on availability (A:H). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and its ease of exploitation pose a significant risk. The CWE-121 classification confirms this is a classic stack-based buffer overflow issue, which can be leveraged for DoS or potentially further exploitation if combined with other vulnerabilities. The lack of an official patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through network controls and monitoring.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-57440 is a denial of service affecting availability of the D-Link DSL-3788 routers. For European organizations relying on these devices for internet connectivity or internal network routing, exploitation could disrupt business operations, cause network outages, and impact critical services. The vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity directly but can be leveraged to cause operational downtime. In sectors such as telecommunications, government, healthcare, and finance where network availability is crucial, this could lead to significant operational and reputational damage. Additionally, the vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature increases the attack surface, especially in environments where router management interfaces are exposed to untrusted networks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly. Organizations with large deployments of the affected router model are at higher risk of widespread disruption.

1. Immediately inventory and identify all D-Link DSL-3788 revA1 routers running firmware version 1.01R1B036_EU_EN within the network. 2. Restrict access to the router’s web management interface by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access only to trusted administrative hosts. 3. Disable remote management features if not required, especially from untrusted networks or the internet. 4. Monitor network traffic for unusual or malformed requests targeting the webproc CGI endpoint, which may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Engage with D-Link support channels to obtain information on forthcoming patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and plan for timely deployment once available. 6. Consider deploying intrusion prevention systems (IPS) or web application firewalls (WAF) with custom signatures to detect and block attempts to exploit the COMM_MAKECustomMsg function. 7. Implement robust network monitoring and alerting to detect router crashes or reboots that may signal exploitation. 8. Educate network administrators about the vulnerability and enforce strict administrative access controls and password policies to reduce risk.