CVE-2022-44844 is a critical command injection vulnerability identified in the TOTOlink A7100RU router firmware version V7.4cu.2313_B20191024. The vulnerability exists in the function setting/setOpenVpnCfg, specifically via the 'pass' parameter. Command injection vulnerabilities (CWE-78) allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the vulnerable application. In this case, the vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This means an attacker can send specially crafted requests to the affected router to inject and execute arbitrary system commands. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as the attacker can potentially take full control of the device, intercept or manipulate VPN configurations, disrupt network traffic, or pivot into internal networks. Although no public exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the high CVSS score of 9.8 reflects the ease of exploitation and the severity of impact. The lack of available patches or vendor advisories at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability affects a specific firmware version of the TOTOlink A7100RU router, a device commonly used in small office/home office (SOHO) environments and possibly in some enterprise edge deployments. The command injection via VPN configuration parameters suggests that attackers could manipulate VPN tunnels, potentially compromising secure communications.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on TOTOlink A7100RU routers in their network infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to full device compromise, allowing attackers to intercept sensitive data, disrupt VPN connectivity, and gain a foothold within internal networks. This is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies. The compromise of VPN configurations could undermine secure remote access, increasing exposure to further attacks. Additionally, disruption of network availability could impact business continuity. Given the router's typical deployment in SOHO or branch office environments, smaller subsidiaries or remote offices of larger European companies may be disproportionately affected, potentially serving as entry points for broader network compromise.

1. Immediate network segmentation: Isolate TOTOlink A7100RU devices from critical network segments to limit potential lateral movement if compromised. 2. Restrict remote management access: Disable remote administration interfaces or restrict access to trusted IP addresses only. 3. Monitor network traffic: Implement IDS/IPS rules to detect anomalous requests targeting the setting/setOpenVpnCfg endpoint or unusual command injection patterns. 4. Replace or upgrade devices: Given the absence of patches, consider replacing affected routers with models from vendors with active security support or upgrading firmware if/when a patch becomes available. 5. Harden VPN configurations: Use multi-factor authentication and strong encryption for VPN access to reduce risk if configuration is tampered with. 6. Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on edge devices to detect exploitation attempts early. 7. Educate IT staff to recognize signs of device compromise and respond promptly. 8. Maintain up-to-date asset inventories to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable devices.