CVE-2025-32459 in Quantenna Wi-Fi Chipset
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2025
The Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset ships with a local control script, router_command.sh (in the sync_time argument), that is vulnerable to command injection. This is an instance of CWE-88, "Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')," and is estimated as a CVSS 7.7 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
This issue affects Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset through version 8.0.0.28 of the latest SDK, and appears to be unpatched at the time of this CVE record's first publishing, though the vendor has released a best practices guide for implementors of this chipset.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-32459 resides within the Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset ecosystem, specifically targeting a local control script named router_command.sh. This script processes user input through a sync_time argument that fails to properly sanitize command delimiters, creating a critical security weakness that allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands. The flaw manifests as a command injection vulnerability that operates at the local privilege level, meaning an attacker must first gain access to a system with local user credentials or execute a successful initial compromise to exploit this weakness. The affected version range extends through version 8.0.0.28 of the Quantenna SDK, indicating this represents a persistent issue that has not yet been addressed through official patches.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-88, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of argument delimiters in command contexts. This classification indicates that the router_command.sh script does not adequately validate or escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into system commands. When the sync_time argument contains malicious input containing command separators such as semicolons, pipes, or other shell metacharacters, these delimiters can be interpreted by the underlying shell as command terminators or operators, enabling attackers to execute unintended system commands with the privileges of the running process. The vulnerability's CVSS score of 7.7 reflects its high severity, particularly given the potential for information disclosure and the lack of user interaction requirements for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it represents a significant threat to network infrastructure security. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness could potentially access sensitive system information, modify network configurations, or establish persistent access points within the affected network environment. The vulnerability's local nature means it primarily affects systems where an attacker already has some level of access, but it can serve as a critical escalation vector for privilege elevation attacks. Given that Quantenna chipsets are commonly deployed in residential and enterprise networking equipment, this vulnerability could compromise entire network infrastructures if exploited successfully.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework, particularly within the privilege escalation and command and control domains. The lack of available patches for this vulnerability means that affected organizations must implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to the router_command.sh script, implementing input validation controls, and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns. The vendor's release of a best practices guide represents a partial mitigation strategy but does not address the core architectural flaw in the command processing logic. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized command execution attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and command construction practices in embedded systems and highlights the critical need for secure coding practices in network infrastructure components.