Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is ever-changing, and one of the latest threats to emerge is the CVE-2025-3693 vulnerability. This is a critical vulnerability found in the Tenda W12 3.0.0.5, a popular wireless router. This vulnerability, if exploited, can lead to a stack-based buffer overflow, potentially compromising the system or leading to data leakage. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and can be remotely launched, which makes it a serious concern for users and administrators of this device.
As the function cgiWifiRadioSet of the file /bin/httpd is affected, this vulnerability is of significant importance. A successful exploit can lead to unauthorized system access, data compromise, and potential hijacking of the device for malicious purposes. Therefore, it is essential to understand the nature of this vulnerability and implement the appropriate mitigation measures.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-3693
Severity: Critical (8.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise, potential data leakage
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
Tenda W12 | 3.0.0.5
How the Exploit Works
The exploit works by manipulating the cgiWifiRadioSet function of the /bin/httpd file in Tenda W12 version 3.0.0.5. This manipulation leads to a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a type of error where the stack pointer exceeds the stack bound. This can overwrite valuable data and control information, which can corrupt the system and lead to unauthorized access or system crashes.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited:
POST /cgi-bin/httpd/cgiWifiRadioSet HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-tenda-router.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
{"wifiRadioSet": "OVERFLOWING_PAYLOAD_STRING"}
In this example, the attacker sends an overflowing payload string to the cgiWifiRadioSet function. This can overflow the stack buffer, potentially leading to unauthorized access and system compromise. Note that this is a simplified example and actual exploitation might require more complex methods and a deep understanding of the system internals.
Mitigation
As a mitigation measure, it is recommended to apply the vendor patch immediately if available. If the patch is not available or cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as temporary mitigation. These can help detect and block exploit attempts. However, they are not a permanent solution and the patch should be applied as soon as possible.
Remember, the best defense against such vulnerabilities is a proactive approach to security. Regularly updating your systems, using intrusion detection systems, and following best security practices can significantly reduce the risk of such exploits.