How severe is CVE-2021-38530?

CVE-2021-38530 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.6, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-38530 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-38530?

CVE-2021-38530 primarily affects Netgear Rbk40 Firmware. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-38530?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-38530 published?

CVE-2021-38530 was published on 2021-08-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-38530

CVE-2021-38530 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Netgear Rbk40 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-77.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.6)
CVSS v2: 10.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (81st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-77
Affected product: Netgear Rbk40 Firmware
Published: 2021-08-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects RBK40 before 2.5.1.16, RBR40 before 2.5.1.16, RBS40 before 2.5.1.16, RBK20 before 2.5.1.16, RBR20 before 2.5.1.16, RBS20 before 2.5.1.16, RBK50 before 2.5.1.16, RBR50 before 2.5.1.16, RBS50 before 2.5.1.16, and RBS50Y before 2.6.1.40.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-38530?: Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects RBK40 before 2.5.1.16, RBR40 before 2.5.1.16, RBS40 before 2.5.1.16, RBK20 before 2.5.1.16, RBR20 before 2.5.1.16, RBS20 before 2.5.1.16, RBK50 before 2.5.1.16, RBR50 before 2.5.1.16, RBS50 before 2.5.1.16, and RBS50Y before 2.6.1.40.
How severe is CVE-2021-38530?: CVE-2021-38530 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.6, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-38530 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (81st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-38530?: CVE-2021-38530 primarily affects Netgear Rbk40 Firmware. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-38530?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-38530 published?: CVE-2021-38530 was published on 2021-08-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://kb.netgear.com/000063770/Security-Advisory-for-Pre-Authentication-Command-Injection-on-Some-WiFi-Systems-PSV-2019-0151

Affected products (10)

cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbk40_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbr40_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbs40_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbk20_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbr20_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbs20_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbk50_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbr50_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbs50_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:rbs50y_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Netgear Rbk40 Firmware

CVE-2021-38516 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by lack of access control at the function level. This affects D6220 before…
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CVE-2021-45626 — Critical (CVSS 9.6): Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects RBK20 before…
CVE-2021-45619 — Critical (CVSS 9.6): Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects EX6200v2 before…
CVE-2021-45618 — Critical (CVSS 9.6): Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by command injection by an unauthenticated attacker. This affects D7800 before…

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