CVE-2023-50224
TP-Link TL-WR841N Authentication Bypass by Spoofing Vulnerability
TP-Link TL-WR841N
TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. . Was ZDI-CAN-19899.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 3 September 2025. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 24 September 2025.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 20%, which is higher than 97.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-50224 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-50224.
What does CVE-2023-50224 affect?
CVE-2023-50224 affects TP-Link TL-WR841N. TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. . Was ZDI-CAN-19899.
How severe is CVE-2023-50224?
CVE-2023-50224 is rated MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 6.5. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 20%, higher than 97.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 24 September 2025.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-50224?
Apply the vendor patch for TP-Link TL-WR841N 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.