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HighCISA KEVExploited in the wildPublic exploit

Unauthenticated Command Injection in TP-Link Archer AX21 /locale Endpoint

IdentifiersCVE-2023-1389CWE-78Also known aszdi_23_451

CVE-2023-1389 is an unauthenticated command injection vulnerability affecting TP-Link Archer AX21 (AX1800) routers running firmware before 1.1.4 Build 20230219. The flaw is in the web management interface locale API, specifically the /cgi-bin/luci;stok=/locale endpoint. During a write operation on the country form, the attacker-controlled country parameter is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into a shell command and executed via popen(). Supporting reporting also identifies the vulnerable code path as involving set_country calling merge_country_config/merge_config_by_country. Because the input reaches a system command without proper neutralization, a network-adjacent attacker can send a crafted POST request and achieve arbitrary command execution in the context of root.

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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 unauthenticated arbitrary command execution as root on the affected router. This can result in full device compromise, installation of malware or botnet payloads, modification of router configuration, interception or manipulation of network traffic, persistence attempts, and use of the device for follow-on activity such as DDoS attacks or lateral movement into the local network. Multiple reports in the provided content confirm active in-the-wild exploitation by Mirai variants, Condi, Moobot, Gafgyt-related activity, Ballista, and other botnet operators.

Mitigation

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

If immediate patching is not possible, restrict access to the router’s web management interface to trusted administrative networks only, disable remote/WAN administration, and prevent unnecessary exposure of the admin panel. Change default or weak administrator credentials, monitor for unexpected configuration changes or unknown processes, and isolate or replace devices that cannot be updated. Because exploitation has been widely automated by botnets, Internet exposure of the management interface materially increases risk.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Upgrade affected TP-Link Archer AX21 firmware to a fixed release. The provided content states vulnerable versions are firmware before 1.1.4 Build 20230219 and that TP-Link issued firmware updates in March 2023, with references to fixes available by March 17, 2023 and download guidance on TP-Link’s Archer AX21 support page. Apply the latest vendor-provided firmware for the specific hardware revision and verify the device is no longer running a vulnerable build.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

2 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).

VALID 2 / 3 TOTALView more in app
CVE-2023-1389MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository is a Go-based proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2023-1389, targeting TP-Link Archer AX21 routers vulnerable to unauthenticated command injection. The main file, main.go, reads a list of target IP addresses from 'list.txt' and attempts to exploit each by sending a crafted HTTPS request to the /cgi-bin/luci/ endpoint, injecting a reverse shell payload. The payload causes the target device to connect back to the attacker's netcat listener, granting a remote shell. The exploit supports concurrent execution using goroutines and a concurrency manager. The repository includes a README with usage instructions, a Go module definition, and dependencies for command-line flag parsing and concurrency control. No detection or scanning functionality is present; the tool is strictly for exploitation. The main attack vector is network-based, exploiting a web interface on the target devices.

werwolfzDisclosed Dec 25, 2023gonetwork
CVE-2023-1389MaturityPoCVerified exploit

This repository contains two Python proof-of-concept exploits for CVE-2023-1389, an unauthenticated command injection vulnerability in the TP-Link Archer AX21 (AX1800) router's web management interface. The vulnerability exists in the 'country' parameter of the 'write' callback at the '/cgi-bin/luci/;stok=/locale' endpoint, allowing arbitrary command execution as root without authentication. - 'archer-file-transfer.py' allows the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the router and exfiltrate their output by writing to '/tmp/out' and transferring it via netcat to the attacker's machine. - 'archer-rev-shell.py' provides a simpler method to obtain a reverse shell on the attacker's system using netcat. Both scripts require the attacker to specify the router's IP, their own IP, and a listening port. The exploit works by sending crafted GET requests to the vulnerable endpoint, leveraging command injection in the 'country' parameter. The README provides usage instructions and mitigation advice. The repository is structured with a README and two Python scripts, both of which are functional proof-of-concept exploits for the described vulnerability.

Voyag3r-SecurityDisclosed Jul 28, 2023pythonnetwork
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
TP-LinkArcher Ax21 Firmwareoperating_system

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

What this page doesn’t show

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Exposure mapping

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Threat actor evidence1

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware22

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures2

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 activity14

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