CVE-2026-114576 in RE6250
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2026
A vulnerability has been found in Linksys RE6250 1.0.04.001. This affects the function strcmp of the component Web Management Interface. The manipulation of the argument session_id leads to insufficiently random values. The attack may be initiated remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. It is indicated that the exploitability is difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2026
The Linksys RE6250 wireless range extender, specifically running firmware version 1.0.04.001, contains a critical security flaw within its Web Management Interface that compromises the integrity of session management mechanisms. This vulnerability centers on the improper implementation of random number generation for session identifiers, which are crucial for maintaining secure user sessions during administrative interactions with the device's configuration interface. The function strcmp is involved in processing these session IDs, but the underlying issue lies not necessarily within the comparison logic itself, but rather in how the session_id argument is generated and validated prior to being passed through this function. When an attacker manipulates or predicts the session_id value due to insufficient entropy in its generation process, they can bypass authentication controls that rely on these identifiers for access control decisions.
This flaw represents a classic instance of weak random number generator usage, which falls under CWE-330: Use of Insufficiently Random Values. In web applications and network device management interfaces, session IDs must be cryptographically secure to prevent prediction or brute-force attacks. When the entropy source is inadequate, an attacker can potentially enumerate valid session tokens by analyzing patterns in previously issued identifiers. Although the complexity of launching such an attack is considered high due to the need for precise timing or statistical analysis, the existence of a publicly disclosed exploit significantly lowers the barrier to entry for malicious actors. This means that even attackers with limited technical expertise could leverage existing tools to compromise the device without needing to develop custom exploitation code from scratch.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe because it allows for remote session hijacking or unauthorized access to the administrative interface. An attacker who successfully predicts a valid session ID can impersonate an authenticated administrator, gaining full control over the network extender's settings. This could lead to various malicious outcomes including redirecting traffic through compromised nodes, disabling security features such as firewall rules or WPA encryption, or installing persistent backdoors for long-term access. Since the Web Management Interface is typically accessible over local networks and potentially exposed via UPnP or port forwarding configurations on connected routers, the attack surface extends beyond just physical proximity to the device.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, specifically in the context of hijacking existing valid sessions rather than creating new ones. It also relates to T1528: Steal Application Access Token if viewed through the lens of stealing session cookies or tokens used by web-based management consoles. The fact that exploit code is publicly available increases the urgency for remediation, as automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers will likely target devices running this specific firmware version. Organizations relying on Linksys RE6250 units must prioritize patching to mitigate these risks before they are exploited in widespread campaigns targeting IoT infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus primarily on updating the device firmware to a patched version that implements cryptographically secure random number generation for session IDs, such as using OS-level entropy sources like /dev/urandom or equivalent APIs designed for security-sensitive applications. Until an official patch is available and deployed, administrators can reduce risk by disabling remote management features if they are not strictly necessary, ensuring the web interface is only accessible from trusted internal networks rather than exposed to the internet via NAT port forwarding rules. Additionally, implementing network segmentation to isolate IoT devices from critical corporate or home network segments limits the potential blast radius of a successful compromise. Regular audits of connected devices and monitoring for unusual administrative login attempts can also aid in early detection of exploitation activities targeting this weakness.