CVE-2024-28014
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in multiple NEC Aterm router models that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the internet. The vulnerability affects all versions of the listed devices and has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating critical severity. Attackers can exploit this without authentication to gain complete control of affected routers.
💻 Affected Systems
- NEC Corporation Aterm WG1800HP4
- WG1200HS3
- WG1900HP2
- WG1200HP3
- WG1800HP3
- WG1200HS2
- WG1900HP
- WG1200HP2
- W1200EX(-MS)
- WG1200HS
- WG1200HP
- WF300HP2
- W300P
- WF800HP
- WR8165N
- WG2200HP
- WF1200HP2
- WG1800HP2
- WF1200HP
- WG600HP
- WG300HP
- WF300HP
- WG1800HP
- WG1400HP
- WR8175N
- WR9300N
- WR8750N
- WR8160N
- WR9500N
- WR8600N
- WR8370N
- WR8170N
- WR8700N
- WR8300N
- WR8150N
- WR4100N
- WR4500N
- WR8100N
- WR8500N
- CR2500P
- WR8400N
- WR8200N
- WR1200H
- WR7870S
- WR6670S
- WR7850S
- WR6650S
- WR6600H
- WR7800H
- WM3400RN
- WM3450RN
- WM3500R
- WM3600R
- WM3800R
- WR8166N
- MR01LN
- MR02LN
- WG1810HP(JE)
- WG1810HP(MF)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of the router allowing attackers to intercept all network traffic, install persistent malware, pivot to internal networks, and permanently brick devices.
Likely Case
Attackers gain remote code execution to use routers as botnet nodes, steal credentials, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, and disrupt network services.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and firewall rules, impact is limited to the router itself, though attackers could still disrupt internet connectivity.
🎯 Exploit Status
The advisory states exploitation is possible via the internet without authentication. Stack-based buffer overflows typically have low exploitation complexity when details are known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check vendor advisory for specific firmware versions
Vendor Advisory: https://jpn.nec.com/security-info/secinfo/nv24-001_en.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Visit the NEC security advisory page
2. Identify your specific router model
3. Download the latest firmware from NEC's support site
4. Log into router admin interface
5. Navigate to firmware update section
6. Upload and apply the new firmware
7. Reboot the router
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Internet Management
allPrevent remote access to router management interface from the internet
Log into router admin interface
Navigate to remote management/administration settings
Disable 'Allow remote management' or similar option
Ensure management is only accessible from LAN
Network Segmentation
allIsolate vulnerable routers from critical internal networks
Configure VLANs to separate router management traffic
Implement firewall rules to restrict router access
Place routers in dedicated network segments
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Immediately disable WAN-side management access to the router
- Replace vulnerable routers with patched or different models if firmware updates are unavailable
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check router model against affected list and verify firmware version is not patched via admin interfaceCheck Version:
Log into router web interface and check firmware version in status/system information pageVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version matches or exceeds patched version listed in vendor advisory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual authentication attempts to router admin interface
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful access
- Unexpected configuration changes
- Unusual outbound connections from router
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to/from router management ports
- Exploit attempt patterns in web traffic to router
- Unexpected open ports on router
SIEM Query:
source_ip="router_ip" AND (http_user_agent CONTAINS "exploit" OR http_request CONTAINS "buffer" OR http_request CONTAINS "overflow")