CVE-2022-45498 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Tenda W6-S router, specifically version 1.0.0.4(510). The flaw exists in the component handling the /goform/SysToolReboot endpoint, identified as tpi_systool_handle(0). This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to trigger an arbitrary reboot of the device remotely without requiring any credentials or user interaction. The root cause is a lack of proper access control (CWE-306) on the reboot functionality, which should be restricted to authorized users only. Exploiting this flaw results in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by forcing the device to reboot, disrupting network connectivity and potentially causing cascading failures in dependent systems. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges, no user interaction) and the high impact on availability, while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability is significant because consumer and small office routers like the Tenda W6-S are often deployed in environments with minimal security oversight, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt network services or use the device as a foothold for further attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and home office setups relying on Tenda W6-S routers for internet connectivity. An attacker exploiting this flaw can cause repeated device reboots, leading to intermittent or prolonged network outages. This disrupts business operations, communications, and access to cloud services. In critical environments such as healthcare, education, or remote work infrastructure, such disruptions can degrade service quality and productivity. Additionally, frequent reboots may degrade device hardware over time, increasing maintenance costs. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact alone can be severe. Furthermore, attackers could leverage this DoS condition as part of a larger multi-vector attack, using the router disruption as a diversion or to weaken network defenses. The lack of authentication requirement lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks from both local and remote adversaries.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all Tenda W6-S routers in use within their networks. 2) Restrict remote access to router management interfaces by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules that limit access to trusted IP addresses only. 3) Disable remote management features if not strictly necessary, especially access to endpoints like /goform/SysToolReboot. 4) Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP requests targeting the /goform/SysToolReboot path, which could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) If possible, apply any firmware updates or patches provided by Tenda as they become available; if no official patch exists, consider contacting the vendor for guidance or replacing vulnerable devices. 6) Implement redundancy in network infrastructure to minimize the impact of device reboots, such as failover routers or alternate internet connections. 7) Educate IT staff about this vulnerability to ensure rapid detection and response to potential incidents. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring specific attack vectors, and infrastructure resilience tailored to this vulnerability.