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High

OS Command Injection in ASUS RT-AX55 token-refresh module

IdentifiersCVE-2023-41346CWE-77

CVE-2023-41346 is an authenticated OS command injection vulnerability in ASUS RT-AX55 firmware. According to the provided content, the issue is in an authentication-related function and stems from insufficient filtering of special characters in the token-refresh module. An authenticated remote attacker can supply crafted input containing shell metacharacters to the vulnerable token-refresh functionality, causing the device to execute arbitrary operating system commands. The flaw affects router management logic and has been referenced as one of several command injection issues leveraged in the Operation WrtHug campaign against ASUS WRT devices.

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the router. This can be used to disrupt the system, terminate services, alter device configuration, install persistence such as SSH backdoors, and take privileged control of the device. In the broader campaign context provided, similar flaws were used to convert compromised routers into relay/proxy nodes and botnet-style infrastructure.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

If immediate patching or replacement is not possible, reduce exposure by disabling remote access features, especially AiCloud where applicable, restricting administrative access to trusted networks only, disabling internet-facing management interfaces, monitoring for unusual traffic and unauthorized certificates/backdoors, and auditing the device for persistence mechanisms such as unexpected SSH access. Unsupported devices should be retired as soon as possible.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Apply the vendor firmware update that addresses CVE-2023-41346. ASUS is reported to have issued security updates for vulnerabilities leveraged in these attacks and recommends upgrading to the latest available firmware. If the device is end-of-life and no supported fixed firmware is available, replace it with a supported model.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
ASUSRt-Ax55 Firmwareoperating_system

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

5 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

5 SOURCESView more in app
What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware1

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity2

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.

EXTERNAL REFERENCES
MITRE CVE
cve.org · CVE-2023-41346
NVD
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41346
MITRE CWE · CWE-77
cwe.mitre.org
Third Party Advisory
twcert.org.tw/tw/cp-132-7497-f92ac-1.html