CVE-2023-1389
TP-Link Archer AX-21 Command Injection Vulnerability
TP-Link Archer AX21
TP-Link Archer AX21 (AX1800) firmware versions before 1.1.4 Build 20230219 contained a command injection vulnerability in the country form of the /cgi-bin/luci;stok=/locale endpoint on the web management interface. Specifically, the country parameter of the write operation was not sanitized before being used in a call to popen(), allowing an unauthenticated attacker to inject commands, which would be run as root, with a simple POST request.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 1 May 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 22 May 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 100%, which is higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-1389 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-1389.
What does CVE-2023-1389 affect?
CVE-2023-1389 affects TP-Link Archer AX21. TP-Link Archer AX21 (AX1800) firmware versions before 1.1.4 Build 20230219 contained a command injection vulnerability in the country form of the /cgi-bin/luci;stok=/locale endpoint on the web management interface. Specifically, the country parameter of the write operation was not sanitized before being used in a call to popen(), allowing an unauthenticated attacker to inject commands, which would be run as root, with a simple POST request.
How severe is CVE-2023-1389?
CVE-2023-1389 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 100%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 22 May 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-1389?
Apply the vendor patch for TP-Link Archer AX21 as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.