How severe is CVE-2021-45501?

CVE-2021-45501 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.4, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability low.

Is CVE-2021-45501 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-45501?

CVE-2021-45501 primarily affects Netgear Ac2400 Firmware. In total, 19 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-45501?

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-2021-45501 published?

CVE-2021-45501 was published on 2021-12-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-45501

CVE-2021-45501 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Netgear Ac2400 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.4)
CVSS v2: 10.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (77th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Netgear Ac2400 Firmware
Published: 2021-12-26
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by authentication bypass. This affects AC2400 before 1.1.0.84, AC2600 before 1.1.0.84, D7000 before 1.0.1.82, R6020 before 1.0.0.52, R6080 before 1.0.0.52, R6120 before 1.0.0.80, R6220 before 1.1.0.110, R6230 before 1.1.0.110, R6260 before 1.1.0.84, R6330 before 1.1.0.84, R6350 before 1.1.0.84, R6700v2 before 1.1.0.84, R6800 before 1.1.0.84, R6850 before 1.1.0.84, R6900v2 before 1.1.0.84, R7200 before 1.1.0.84, R7350 before 1.1.0.84, R7400 before 1.1.0.84, and R7450 before 1.1.0.84.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-45501?: Certain NETGEAR devices are affected by authentication bypass. This affects AC2400 before 1.1.0.84, AC2600 before 1.1.0.84, D7000 before 1.0.1.82, R6020 before 1.0.0.52, R6080 before 1.0.0.52, R6120 before 1.0.0.80, R6220 before 1.1.0.110, R6230 before 1.1.0.110, R6260 before 1.1.0.84, R6330 before 1.1.0.84, R6350 before 1.1.0.84, R6700v2 before 1.1.0.84, R6800 before 1.1.0.84, R6850 before 1.1.0.84, R6900v2 before 1.1.0.84, R7200 before 1.1.0.84, R7350 before 1.1.0.84, R7400 before 1.1.0.84, and R7450 before 1.1.0.84.
How severe is CVE-2021-45501?: CVE-2021-45501 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.4, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability low.
Is CVE-2021-45501 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (77th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-45501?: CVE-2021-45501 primarily affects Netgear Ac2400 Firmware. In total, 19 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-45501?: 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-2021-45501 published?: CVE-2021-45501 was published on 2021-12-26 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://kb.netgear.com/000064532/Security-Advisory-for-Authentication-Bypass-on-Some-Routers-PSV-2021-0154

Affected products (19)

cpe:2.3:o:netgear:ac2400_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:ac2600_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:d7000_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6020_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6080_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6120_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6220_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6230_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6260_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6330_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6350_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6700v2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6800_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6850_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r6900v2_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r7200_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r7350_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r7400_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:netgear:r7450_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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