CVE-2026-15429 in Archer VX1800v
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the HTTP authentication component in Archer VX1800v v1. Improper handling of user-controlled input may allow newline characters to be injected into internally constructed configuration data.
An authenticated user with sufficient privileges may be able to modify account settings and gain elevated administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The vulnerability under discussion represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the HTTP authentication subsystem of Archer VX1800v version 1 devices. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into internal configuration structures. The specific technical weakness manifests when newline characters are successfully injected into the authentication processing pipeline, enabling attackers to manipulate the system's internal configuration state.
This vulnerability operates through a classic injection attack vector where maliciously crafted input containing newline sequences disrupts the normal parsing of authentication data. The HTTP authentication component in Archer VX1800v v1 processes user credentials and account settings without adequate sanitization of special characters, particularly newline terminators that can alter the intended structure of internal configuration files or database entries. When such characters are inserted into user-controlled fields during account modification processes, they can cause the system to misinterpret subsequent configuration data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypasses to encompass full administrative control over affected systems. An authenticated user who possesses sufficient privileges to modify account settings can exploit this weakness to inject malicious configurations that elevate their access level to administrator status. This represents a significant escalation from standard user access to privileged system control, potentially enabling complete system compromise and unauthorized data manipulation.
The technical flaw aligns with common CWE classifications related to injection vulnerabilities and improper input validation. Specifically, this vulnerability maps to CWE-77 and CWE-20 categories which encompass command injection and improper input sanitization respectively. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness corresponds to privilege escalation techniques under T1068 and credential access patterns in T1550, demonstrating how authentication system flaws can be leveraged for broader system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation for all user-controlled fields within authentication components, particularly focusing on newline character filtering and sanitization. System administrators must restrict account modification privileges to only essential personnel and implement strict access controls. Regular security audits of authentication subsystems are crucial to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other system components. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and input validation layers can provide additional protection against such injection attacks while maintaining operational functionality.
The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input sanitization in authentication systems and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in major security consequences. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling mechanisms should be conducted to prevent similar issues from emerging in other system components. Patch management strategies must prioritize authentication subsystem updates to address known injection vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that detect anomalous configuration changes or authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Network segmentation and least privilege access models can limit the potential impact if such vulnerabilities are successfully exploited in operational environments. The complexity of modern authentication systems demands comprehensive security testing including both automated scanning and manual penetration testing approaches to identify injection vectors and other critical weaknesses.