CVE-2025-45492 is a command injection vulnerability identified in the Netgear EX8000 Wi-Fi range extender, specifically version 1.0.0.126. The flaw exists in the 'action_wireless' function, where the 'Iface' parameter is improperly sanitized, allowing an attacker to inject arbitrary commands. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-77, which pertains to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, commonly known as command injection. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with the vector indicating that the attack can be performed remotely (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact primarily affects confidentiality and integrity, as the attacker can execute arbitrary commands remotely, potentially leading to unauthorized information disclosure or manipulation of device settings. However, availability impact is rated as none (A:N). No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches have been published at the time of this analysis. The vulnerability was reserved on April 22, 2025, and published on May 6, 2025. Given the nature of the device—a consumer-grade Wi-Fi range extender—exploitation could allow attackers to pivot into internal networks or disrupt wireless configurations, posing risks to network security and data confidentiality.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and home office environments that utilize the Netgear EX8000 extender to enhance wireless coverage. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the device remotely without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized access to network traffic or lateral movement within the internal network. This could compromise sensitive data confidentiality and integrity, especially if the device is part of a larger corporate network or connected to critical infrastructure. While the availability impact is rated as none, the compromise of network devices can indirectly affect operational continuity. The risk is heightened in environments where network segmentation is weak or where such devices are deployed in critical network paths. Additionally, the lack of a patch increases exposure time, necessitating proactive mitigation.

1. Immediate network segmentation: Isolate the Netgear EX8000 devices from critical network segments to limit potential lateral movement if compromised. 2. Disable remote management interfaces on the device to reduce the attack surface. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity originating from or targeting the extender, including command injection patterns or unexpected outbound connections. 4. Apply strict firewall rules to restrict access to the device's management interfaces only to trusted IP addresses. 5. Regularly check Netgear's official channels for firmware updates or patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 6. Consider replacing vulnerable devices with models that have confirmed security updates if patching is delayed. 7. Educate IT staff and users about the risks of using consumer-grade network equipment in enterprise environments and enforce procurement policies accordingly.