⚠ Reference material — not professional advice. Test in staging, back up first, verify against your specific version. Use your own judgment for your environment.
● Critical · CVSS 9.8 ⚠ ACTIVELY EXPLOITED — CISA KEV

How to Fix CVE-2017-6862: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

Other vulnerabilities in the same area that are worth patching alongside this one:

*By Sai Kiran Pandrala*

⚡ At a glance
SeverityCVSS 9.8 - Critical
Actively exploited?Yes, listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-06-08)
AffectedNETGEAR All versions prior to WNR2000v3 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 1.0.0.66, WNR2000v5 1.0.0.42: NETGEAR All versions prior to WNR2000v3 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 1.0.0.66, WNR2000v5 1.0.0.42
Fixed inSee vendor advisory for the patched build
Type (CWE)CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
Patch immediately. CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog lists this CVE, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. CISA KEV entry added 2022-06-08, federal due date 2022-06-22.

What is CVE-2017-6862?

CVE-2017-6862 is a buffer copy without checking size of input ('classic buffer overflow') in Netgear All Versions Prior To Wnr2000V3 1.1.2.14, Wnr2000V4 1.0.0.66, Wnr2000V5 1.0.0.42 from Netgear. NETGEAR WNR2000v3 devices before 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 devices before 1.0.0.66, and WNR2000v5 devices before 1.0.0.42 allow authentication bypass and remote code execution via a buffer overflow that uses a parameter in the administration webapp. The NETGEAR ID is PSV-2016-0261.

Why this CVE matters

This CVE sits on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which only happens after active exploitation is observed in the wild. The buffer copy without checking size of input ('classic buffer overflow') class of flaw gives attackers a reliable foothold against vulnerable instances of Netgear All Versions Prior To Wnr2000V3 1.1.2.14, Wnr2000V4 1.0.0.66, Wnr2000V5 1.0.0.42. If your deployment matches the affected versions, treat any window of unpatched exposure as compromise-likely and review logs accordingly.

Am I affected?

Run the version check that matches your platform. If the installed build sits inside the affected range from the table above, the fix applies to you.


# Linux package check
dpkg -s netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 2>/dev/null | grep -i version    # Debian / Ubuntu
rpm -q netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 2>/dev/null                       # RHEL / Rocky


# Network appliance CLI
show version    # then compare against the 'Affected' row above

How to fix CVE-2017-6862

Apply the patched build the vendor names in the advisory. The commands below are starting points keyed to common platforms - adapt the package name and target version to your environment.

Network appliance CLI


# Vendor advisory: https://kb.netgear.com/000038542/Security-Advisory-for-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2016-0261
# 1. Confirm the running firmware
show version
# (or the vendor-specific equivalent: get system status / show system info)

# 2. Download the patched image from the vendor support portal, verify SHA256
sha256sum <patched-image>

# 3. Apply via the vendor's upgrade procedure (TFTP/SCP/USB)
# 4. Reboot, then re-run the version command and confirm the patched build is loaded

PowerShell detect/upgrade/verify/log (Windows)


# CVE-2017-6862 remediation runner — adapt the version checks to your environment.
$log = "C:\Logs\CVE-2017-6862-fix.log"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path (Split-Path $log) | Out-Null
function Write-Log($msg) { "$(Get-Date -Format s) $msg" | Out-File $log -Append }

try {
    Write-Log "Detect: checking installed product"
    $installed = Get-CimInstance Win32_Product -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
        Where-Object { $_.Name -match 'NETGEAR All versions prior to WNR2000v3 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 1.0.0.66, WNR2000v5 1.0.0.42' }
    if (-not $installed) { Write-Log "Product not installed; nothing to do"; return }
    Write-Log "Found version $($installed.Version)"

    Write-Log "Backup: copying program files and registry hive"
    $stamp = Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd-HHmm
    $backup = "C:\Backup\CVE-2017-6862-$stamp"
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $backup | Out-Null
    Copy-Item $installed.InstallLocation $backup -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    reg export HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall "$backup\uninstall.reg" /y | Out-Null

    Write-Log "Upgrade: install patched build via vendor MSI / Windows Update"
    # Example MSI:  Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList '/i C:\Patches\NETGEAR All versions prior to WNR2000v3 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 1.0.0.66, WNR2000v5 1.0.0.42-patched.msi /qn /norestart' -Wait
    Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    Write-Log "Verify: re-reading product version"
    $after = Get-CimInstance Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -match 'NETGEAR All versions prior to WNR2000v3 1.1.2.14, WNR2000v4 1.0.0.66, WNR2000v5 1.0.0.42' }
    Write-Log "Post-patch version: $($after.Version)"
    if ($after.Version -ne $installed.Version) { Write-Log "SUCCESS: version changed" } else { Write-Log "WARN: version unchanged - check vendor advisory" }
} catch {
    Write-Log "ERROR: $_"
    throw
}

Bash detect/upgrade/verify/log (Linux)


#!/usr/bin/env bash
# CVE-2017-6862 remediation runner. Re-runnable, exits non-zero on failure.
set -euo pipefail
log() { printf '%s %s\n' "$(date -Is)" "$*" | tee -a /var/log/cve-2017-6862-fix.log; }

log "Detect: current netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 version"
if command -v dpkg >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    current=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 2>/dev/null || echo "not-installed")
elif command -v rpm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    current=$(rpm -q --qf '%{VERSION}-%{RELEASE}' netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 2>/dev/null || echo "not-installed")
else
    current="unknown"
fi
log "Current: $current"

log "Backup: snapshotting config"
backup="/var/backups/cve-2017-6862-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M)"
mkdir -p "$backup"
[ -d /etc/netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 ] && cp -a /etc/netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 "$backup/" || true

log "Upgrade: applying vendor patch"
if command -v apt-get >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    sudo apt-get update -qq
    sudo apt-get install -y --only-upgrade netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042
elif command -v dnf >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    sudo dnf upgrade -y netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042
elif command -v yum >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    sudo yum update -y netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042
fi

log "Verify: re-reading netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 version"
if command -v dpkg >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    after=$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042)
else
    after=$(rpm -q --qf '%{VERSION}-%{RELEASE}' netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042)
fi
log "After: $after"

if [ "$after" != "$current" ]; then
    log "SUCCESS: netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 upgraded"
else
    log "WARN: version unchanged. Confirm the patched build is in your repository."
    exit 1
fi

After the upgrade, restart any service that loads the patched binary so the new code is actually running.

If you can't patch immediately

Patching is the only durable fix. These mitigations cut exposure while the change window is scheduled, they do not remove the vulnerability.

Restrict network exposure (iptables / nftables)


# Replace 10.0.0.0/8 with your management network. This drops everyone else.
sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
sudo iptables-save | sudo tee /etc/iptables/rules.v4


# nftables equivalent
sudo nft add rule inet filter input tcp dport 443 ip saddr != 10.0.0.0/8 drop

How to verify the fix worked

After applying the patched build, confirm the version string matches the fixed release named in the Netgear advisory.


dpkg -s netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042 | grep -i version       # Debian / Ubuntu
rpm -q netgearallversionspriortownr2000v311214wnr2000v410066wnr2000v510042                          # RHEL / Rocky

Run an authenticated vulnerability scan with a current signature set and confirm the scanner no longer flags CVE-2017-6862. For internet-facing deployments that were unpatched during the disclosure window, review logs for the affected endpoints over the full exposure period and rotate any credentials the vulnerable process could touch.

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2017-6862 being exploited in the wild?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2017-6862 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which means active exploitation has been confirmed.

Will a firewall rule or WAF signature fully mitigate CVE-2017-6862?

No. Network-layer filters slow opportunistic scanners and block a subset of payloads, but a focused attacker who knows the bug will work around them. The vendor patch is the only durable fix.

Do I need to assume compromise if the affected service was internet-facing and unpatched?

For a CVE that CISA confirms is under active exploitation, yes. Review logs for the affected endpoints over the entire exposure window, rotate credentials the vulnerable process could read, and look for unexpected accounts, scheduled tasks, or outbound connections.

References

*This guide was assembled from the official vendor advisory, the NVD record, and the CISA KEV catalog entry on 2026-05-25. Always confirm against the vendor advisory before applying changes in production.*