CVE-2025-0848 in A18
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2025
A vulnerability was found in Tenda A18 up to 15.13.07.09. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function SetCmdlineRun of the file /goform/SetCmdlineRun of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument wpapsk_crypto5g leads to stack-based buffer overflow. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
This critical vulnerability exists in the Tenda A18 router firmware version 15.13.07.09 and earlier, representing a significant security risk for network infrastructure devices. The flaw resides within the HTTP POST Request Handler component, specifically in the SetCmdlineRun function located at /goform/SetCmdlineRun. The vulnerability manifests when processing the wpapsk_crypto5g argument, which is passed to a vulnerable function that fails to properly validate input length before copying data to a fixed-size stack buffer. This stack-based buffer overflow occurs when user-supplied data exceeds the allocated buffer space, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The issue's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can trigger this vulnerability without physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic stack buffer overflow pattern that aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows arbitrary data to overwrite stack memory. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through code injection, as successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service. The HTTP POST Request Handler component serves as the attack vector, accepting user input through web forms and processing it without adequate sanitization. The wpapsk_crypto5g parameter likely represents a wireless security setting field that accepts cryptographic algorithm specifications, but the implementation fails to validate the maximum length of input data before performing memory operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected router's security posture. Network administrators face potential exposure of sensitive network data, unauthorized access to internal network resources, and possible use as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The public disclosure of exploitation techniques means that this vulnerability is immediately actionable by threat actors, increasing the risk to organizations with unpatched Tenda A18 devices. The attack surface includes not only the device itself but also any network services or systems that rely on the router's configuration, as attackers could potentially gain access to DNS resolution, DHCP services, and other network functions controlled by the compromised device. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of network infrastructure devices and represents a critical failure in input validation and memory management practices.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation involves updating to the latest firmware version that addresses this vulnerability, as Tenda has likely released patches to correct the buffer overflow in the SetCmdlineRun function. Network administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary services and implementing strict access controls for the web management interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in embedded systems, particularly those handling user-supplied data through web interfaces. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious HTTP POST requests targeting the vulnerable /goform/SetCmdlineRun endpoint, with particular attention to payloads that exceed normal parameter lengths. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected Tenda A18 devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on network criticality and exposure levels.