CVE-2022-45997 in W20E
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
Tenda W20E V16.01.0.6(3392) is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The Tenda W20E V16.01.0.6(3392) wireless router firmware contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that presents significant security risks to network infrastructure. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the device's web interface handling mechanisms, specifically affecting the parameter processing functionality that manages user inputs through HTTP requests. The buffer overflow occurs when the device fails to properly validate the length of incoming data, allowing malicious actors to craft specially crafted payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space and overwrite adjacent memory regions. This flaw exists within the router's embedded web server implementation and represents a fundamental security failure in the firmware's input sanitization processes.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability enables attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on the affected device with elevated privileges. When a malicious user sends a crafted HTTP request containing oversized input data to the router's web interface, the buffer overflow allows for memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program execution pointers and control registers. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitation process typically involves crafting HTTP POST requests with oversized parameters that trigger the overflow condition, potentially allowing threat actors to gain root access to the device and execute malicious code with full administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device compromise, as it can lead to complete network infiltration and persistent access to the affected infrastructure. Once successfully exploited, attackers can establish backdoor access to the router, potentially enabling them to monitor network traffic, redirect DNS requests, modify firewall rules, or use the device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the local network. The vulnerability affects the device's ability to maintain secure network operations and can result in unauthorized data exfiltration, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within enterprise environments where such devices are deployed. This represents a significant concern for organizations relying on consumer-grade networking equipment for critical infrastructure operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from Tenda to address the buffer overflow condition, as well as network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when not actively required. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure should include vulnerability scanning for similar buffer overflow conditions, and device inventory management should track all network equipment to ensure timely patch deployment. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting known buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.