CVE-2025-9089 in AC20
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2025
A vulnerability was determined in Tenda AC20 16.03.08.12. This issue affects the function sub_48E628 of the file /goform/SetIpMacBind. The manipulation of the argument list 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 • 08/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-9089 resides within the Tenda AC20 router firmware version 16.03.08.12 and specifically targets the SetIpMacBind functionality. This issue manifests in the sub_48E628 function located within the /goform/SetIpMacBind file, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the device's operational integrity. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied arguments, creating an exploitable condition within the router's memory management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a stack-based buffer overflow attack that leverages manipulation of the argument list passed to the vulnerable function. When an attacker crafts malicious input parameters and submits them to the SetIpMacBind interface, the system fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This fundamental flaw allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crash. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate the attack without physical access to the device, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-9089 extends beyond simple system instability, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the affected router. This compromised device could then serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration, enabling attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The public disclosure of exploitation techniques further amplifies the risk, as it removes the element of surprise and provides attackers with readily available methods to target vulnerable installations. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is categorized under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a critical security weakness that allows attackers to manipulate stack memory through improper buffer handling.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Tenda, as the manufacturer likely released patches addressing the buffer overflow condition. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and firewall rules to limit exposure of the affected device to untrusted networks, while also monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services, highlighting the need for network segmentation and service hardening measures. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary services, implementing network access control lists, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous requests to the SetIpMacBind endpoint, which could indicate attempted exploitation of this specific vulnerability.