CVE-2025-29044: Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Netgear R61 Router

Overview

The CVE-2025-29044 is a critical vulnerability that has been discovered in the Netgear R61 router with the firmware version V1.0.1.28. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and potentially compromise systems or leak data. It is of particular concern for both businesses and individual users that utilize the Netgear R61 router, as it exposes them to potential breaches of their network security. Given the CVSS Severity Score of 9.8, it is crucial to address this vulnerability promptly and effectively to mitigate the substantial risks it poses.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-29044
Severity: Critical (9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage.

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Netgear R61 Router | V1.0.1.28

How the Exploit Works

The CVE-2025-29044 vulnerability is a buffer overflow vulnerability, which happens when more data is written to a buffer than it can handle. This can cause the extra data to overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to erratic program behavior, including memory access errors, incorrect results, program termination, or breach of system security.
In this case, the vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of the QUERY_STRING key value in the HTTP GET request. A remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted request with an overly long QUERY_STRING value, causing the buffer to overflow and allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code.

Conceptual Example Code

GET /index.cgi HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
QUERY_STRING: cmd=... [long string of arbitrary characters]

This conceptual example shows an HTTP GET request to the index.cgi file on the target router. The QUERY_STRING parameter is filled with an overly long string of characters, which triggers the buffer overflow and allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29044

The most effective way to mitigate the vulnerability is by applying the patch provided by the vendor, Netgear, as soon as it is made available. Until then, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used as a temporary mitigation measure to detect and block exploit attempts. Users should also consider disabling remote management features until the patch has been installed.