CVE-2026-9044 in AXE75
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2026
An OS command injection vulnerability exists in the VPN module of TP-Link AXE75 V1 routers. This vulnerability allows an adjacent, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device by importing a specially crafted VPN client configuration file. The issue arises from improper filtering of special characters.
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may enable an attacker to gain full control of the affected device, potentially compromising configuration integrity, network security, and service availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2026
The vulnerability under discussion represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within the VPN module of TP-Link AXE75 V1 routers, classified as CVE-2023-XXXX. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize special characters in user-supplied data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the router processes imported VPN client configuration files, creating an attack surface where maliciously crafted inputs can be executed with system-level privileges. The issue is particularly concerning because it requires only adjacent network access and authentication credentials, making it exploitable by attackers who are physically present or within the same network segment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic command injection pattern where user-controllable input flows directly into system execution contexts without proper sanitization. When an authenticated attacker imports a specially crafted VPN configuration file, the router's processing logic does not adequately filter or escape special characters such as semicolons, ampersands, pipes, or backticks that could alter command execution flow. This improper input handling creates a direct pathway for arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying operating system through carefully constructed payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 which specifically address command injection flaws where external input is incorporated into OS commands without proper validation or sanitization.
From an operational perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected router, enabling them to modify network configurations, intercept traffic, establish persistent backdoors, and potentially pivot to other network segments. The compromised device can serve as a launching point for further attacks within the local network, while the attacker gains visibility into all network communications passing through the compromised gateway. This represents a significant threat to network security posture as the router acts as a fundamental boundary control device, and its compromise directly impacts configuration integrity, service availability, and overall network resilience against lateral movement attacks.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, specifically targeting the command shell through legitimate administrative interfaces. Network defenders should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from TP-Link, network segmentation to limit adjacent access, and monitoring for unusual VPN configuration imports. Additionally, implementing proper input validation controls, using secure coding practices for command construction, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious command execution patterns would significantly reduce the risk exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user inputs in network infrastructure devices and maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of known command injection flaws that could compromise entire network infrastructures through a single compromised device.