CVE-2026-50206 in Connect M6E 5G Portable WiFi Router
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2026
Incoming VPN network profile settings fail to process special characters safely, enabling command injection via malicious config files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in VPN network profile processing that arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization of special characters within configuration files. The vulnerability occurs when VPN client software fails to properly escape or filter special characters during the parsing of network profile settings, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary commands through crafted configuration files. The technical implementation flaw stems from the use of unsafe string concatenation or direct command execution patterns where user-controlled input directly influences system command construction without proper sanitization measures. This issue manifests when VPN clients process configuration files containing special characters such as semicolons, pipes, ampersands, or backticks that are typically used for command chaining in shell environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and CWE-94 which covers improper control of generation of code. From an operational perspective this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the VPN client process, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious VPN profile files that contain command injection payloads, which when processed by vulnerable clients result in unauthorized code execution. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to deliver malicious configuration files or exploitation of trusted network connections where profile files are automatically downloaded and processed. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise as VPN clients often operate with elevated privileges and may access sensitive network resources, making this a high-value target for attackers seeking persistent access. Organizations using VPN solutions that process external configuration files without proper input validation are at significant risk, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted profile sources. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in secure coding practices where input validation should occur at multiple layers including parsing, sanitization, and execution phases. Effective mitigations include implementing strict input validation and sanitization of all configuration file contents, employing proper escaping mechanisms for special characters, utilizing secure coding practices that avoid direct command construction from user input, and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regularly auditing VPN client configurations to detect potentially malicious modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns and maintaining up-to-date security patches for VPN client software.