CVE-2024-52015 – This vulnerability is a stack overflow in speci... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-52015?

CVE-2024-52015 has a CVSS score of 5.7 (MEDIUM). This vulnerability is a stack overflow in specific Netgear router models via the pptp_user_ip parameter in the bsw_pptp.cgi script. Attackers can exploit it by sending a crafted POST request to cause a Denial of Service (DoS), potentially crashing the router. Affected users are those running vulnerable firmware versions on Netgear R8500, XR300, R7000P, and R6400 v2 routers.

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability is a stack overflow in specific Netgear router models via the pptp_user_ip parameter in the bsw_pptp.cgi script. Attackers can exploit it by sending a crafted POST request to cause a Denial of Service (DoS), potentially crashing the router. Affected users are those running vulnerable firmware versions on Netgear R8500, XR300, R7000P, and R6400 v2 routers.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Netgear R8500
Netgear XR300
Netgear R7000P
Netgear R6400 v2

Versions: R8500 v1.0.2.160, XR300 v1.0.3.78, R7000P v1.3.3.154, R6400 v2 1.0.4.128

Operating Systems: Router firmware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires web interface access; PPTP configuration may not be enabled by default but vulnerability exists in CGI script.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Router becomes completely unresponsive, requiring physical power cycle, disrupting all network connectivity for connected devices.

🟠

Likely Case

Router crashes or becomes unstable, causing temporary network outage until reboot.

🟢

If Mitigated

Minimal impact if router is behind firewall blocking external access to web interface.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ⚠️ Yes

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploit requires authentication to router web interface; proof-of-concept code is publicly available.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Check Netgear security advisory for latest patched versions

Vendor Advisory: https://www.netgear.com/about/security/

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Log into router web interface. 2. Navigate to firmware update section. 3. Check for updates. 4. Download and install latest firmware. 5. Reboot router.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable remote management

all

Prevents external exploitation by disabling web interface access from WAN

Restrict web interface access

all

Limit access to router web interface to trusted IP addresses only

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Isolate router on separate network segment
Implement network monitoring for suspicious POST requests to bsw_pptp.cgi

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check router firmware version in web interface under Advanced > Administration > Firmware Update

Check Version:

No CLI command; check via web interface

Verify Fix Applied:

Confirm firmware version is newer than affected versions listed

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Multiple POST requests to /bsw_pptp.cgi
Router crash/reboot logs
Unusual authentication attempts

Network Indicators:

HTTP POST requests with long pptp_user_ip parameter
Traffic to router web interface from unexpected sources

SIEM Query:

http.method=POST AND http.uri="/bsw_pptp.cgi" AND http.param="pptp_user_ip" AND length(http.param_value)>100

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-52015

CVSS v3 Score: 5.7 (MEDIUM)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CWE: CWE-120

Published: November 5, 2024

Last Updated: May 21, 2025

🔗 References

https://github.com/wudipjq/my_vuln/blob/main/Netgear4/vuln_43/43.md Broken Link
https://www.netgear.com/about/security/ Vendor Advisory

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