# CVE-2023-51634: NETGEAR RAX30 Improper Certificate Validation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> Network-adjacent attackers can execute arbitrary code with root privileges on NETGEAR RAX30 routers due to improper HTTPS certificate validation.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Nov 2024
- **Updated:** 5 Dec 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5p7c-48hh-g6m7

## What is CVE-2023-51634?

CVE-2023-51634 is a high-severity vulnerability in NETGEAR RAX30, published on 22 Nov 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NETGEAR RAX30 Improper Certificate Validation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to compromise the integrity of downloaded information on affected installations of NETGEAR RAX30  routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the downloading of files via HTTPS. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the certificate presented by the server. An attacker can leverage this in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-19589.

Weakness: CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-51634?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Netgear Rax30 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-51634?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-51634 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-51634 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-51634 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in NETGEAR RAX30

- [CVE-2025-44658](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-44658/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-1327](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1327/): Auth bypass in Netgear RAX30 (AX2400) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-27852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27852/): Memory corruption in NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi6 Router (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-27853](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27853/): Other in NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi6 Router (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-51635](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51635/): NETGEAR RAX30 fing_dil Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-51634 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-51634 is a high-severity vulnerability in NETGEAR RAX30, published on 22 Nov 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-51634 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: NETGEAR RAX30. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51634/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51634/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-51634
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51634
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-51634

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51634/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.