CVE-2026-78799 in IK-Q3000
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
Directory Traversal vulnerability in Quanxun Huiju Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd IK-Q3000 Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 wireless router Enterprise Edition: <= iKuai8_3.7.23_Enterprise Build 202606021825 - Free Edition: <= iKuai 8_4.0.304-beta allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Quanxun Huiju Network Technology IK-Q3000 Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 wireless router represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation and path traversal mechanisms within its web management interface or associated backend services. This specific issue, classified under CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to manipulate file system paths through the use of special characters such as dot-dot-slash sequences. By exploiting this directory traversal weakness, an adversary can access files and directories that are typically restricted from normal user interaction, including sensitive configuration files, system binaries, or other critical components of the router's operating environment. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the iKuai OS software stack, specifically impacting enterprise editions up to build 202606021825 for version 3.7.23 and beta releases up to version 4.0.304-beta, indicating a persistent failure in sanitizing user-supplied input across different iterations of the firmware.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution. While directory traversal itself constitutes an information disclosure or unauthorized access issue, in many embedded router architectures, it serves as a precursor vector for more destructive attacks. Attackers can leverage their ability to read sensitive configuration files to extract credentials, network topology details, and encryption keys, thereby compromising the confidentiality of the entire network infrastructure protected by these devices. Furthermore, if the traversal allows writing or overwriting specific system files, such as CGI scripts or startup configurations, it enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the underlying service account, which is often root on embedded Linux systems. This transforms a simple path manipulation error into a full compromise scenario where an attacker gains complete control over the device, potentially using it as a pivot point for lateral movement within the internal network or launching attacks against other connected devices.
From a threat intelligence perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to Initial Access and Execution via Web Protocols. The exploitation path typically involves crafting HTTP requests that contain maliciously formatted URLs designed to bypass directory restrictions. Once inside the file system, an attacker may proceed to escalate privileges or establish persistence mechanisms by modifying startup scripts or installing backdoors within accessible directories. This behavior mirrors common attack patterns observed in IoT and network infrastructure compromises where weak input validation leads to systemic failure. The presence of this flaw in enterprise-grade equipment is particularly concerning as these devices often serve as gateways for corporate networks, making them high-value targets for state-sponsored actors and criminal syndicates seeking persistent access or data exfiltration capabilities.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching if available from the vendor, ensuring that all affected units are updated to a version where input sanitization has been rigorously implemented. In cases where patches are not immediately deployable, network segmentation should be enforced to restrict management interface accessibility strictly to trusted administrative subnets, thereby reducing the attack surface exposed to untrusted networks such as the internet or guest Wi-Fi segments. Additionally, implementing strict firewall rules that block outbound connections from compromised devices can limit the ability of an attacker to exfiltrate data or communicate with command-and-control servers after exploitation. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on web application security flaws are recommended to detect similar input validation weaknesses before they can be exploited in production environments.