CVE-2026-7193 in T-CPE301K 4G Mini WiFi Router
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
A vulnerability relating to the use of predefined credentials in the Dbit T-CPE301K 4G WiFi mini-router allows an attacker connected to the same network to gain full root access to the device via the Telnet service (port 23) using static credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Dbit T-CPE301K 4G WiFi mini-router represents a critical failure in authentication mechanisms, specifically categorized under CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials. This flaw stems from the device manufacturer's decision to embed static, predefined credentials directly into the firmware for administrative access via the Telnet service on port twenty-three. Unlike dynamic password generation or secure key management practices, these hardcoded values remain constant across all units of this model and often persist even after factory resets or configuration changes. This architectural oversight fundamentally undermines the security boundary between untrusted network segments and privileged device administration interfaces, creating a predictable entry point for malicious actors operating within the same local area network segment.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability allows any attacker with Layer two connectivity to the router's LAN interface to establish a remote shell session as the root user without providing valid credentials or bypassing authentication challenges in a complex manner. The use of Telnet further exacerbates the risk because it transmits data, including potential subsequent commands and responses, in plaintext, although for this specific initial access vector, the primary concern is the lack of authentication rather than confidentiality. Once an attacker gains root access through these static credentials, they achieve complete control over the device's operating system. This level of privilege enables the modification of network configuration files, interception of traffic passing through the router, installation of persistent backdoors or malware such as botnet clients, and potentially pivoting to attack other devices on the internal network that may have weaker security postures themselves.
The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access; it compromises the integrity and availability of the entire local network infrastructure managed by this gateway device. Attackers can redirect DNS queries to malicious servers for phishing campaigns or cryptomining pools, modify firewall rules to expose sensitive internal services like SSH or SMB to external threats, or extract stored Wi-Fi passwords from configuration files that are often readable with root privileges. This scenario aligns closely with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to maintain access and move laterally within a network environment. The presence of such easily exploitable default accounts significantly lowers the barrier for entry, allowing even low-skilled threat actors or automated scanning bots to compromise large numbers of devices rapidly across diverse networks globally.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hygiene. Since this is a firmware-level issue involving hardcoded credentials, users should first check if Dbit has released an updated firmware version that removes the Telnet service entirely or replaces static passwords with dynamic ones generated per device during manufacturing. If no such update exists, disabling the Telnet service via any available web interface settings is critical to eliminate the attack vector immediately. Additionally, network segmentation practices should be employed to isolate IoT devices from sensitive workstations and servers, limiting the blast radius of a compromised router. For organizations managing multiple units, implementing strict access control lists on switches can restrict port twenty-three traffic to only trusted management stations if Telnet must remain enabled for legacy support reasons. Ultimately, this vulnerability highlights the necessity for manufacturers to adhere to secure development lifecycle principles that prohibit hardcoding credentials and mandate unique per-device secrets or robust authentication protocols such as SSH with key-based login instead of insecure remote access services like Telnet.