CVE-2022-45511 is a high-severity stack overflow vulnerability identified in the Tenda W30E router firmware version V1.0.1.25(633). The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the PPPOEPassword parameter in the /goform/QuickIndex endpoint. Specifically, the stack overflow (CWE-787) occurs when an attacker sends a specially crafted request containing an overly long or malformed PPPOEPassword value, which exceeds the buffer allocated on the stack. This can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the device or, in some cases, execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact is primarily on availability, with no direct confidentiality or integrity impact reported. No patches or official fixes have been published at the time of this analysis, and no known exploits are currently observed in the wild. The affected product is the Tenda W30E router, a consumer-grade networking device typically used to provide internet connectivity via PPPoE. The lack of detailed vendor or product information limits the scope of the analysis, but the vulnerability is significant given the ease of exploitation and potential to disrupt network availability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-45511 is the potential disruption of network connectivity due to denial of service conditions on affected Tenda W30E routers. Organizations relying on these devices for internet access or internal network routing could experience outages, impacting business operations, communications, and access to cloud or remote services. While no direct data breach or integrity compromise is indicated, the loss of availability can have cascading effects, especially for small and medium enterprises or remote offices using consumer-grade equipment. Additionally, if an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, it could lead to further compromise of the network perimeter, enabling lateral movement or persistent access. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk, but the vulnerability remains a concern due to its high CVSS score and ease of exploitation without authentication. European organizations in sectors with critical reliance on stable internet connectivity, such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, should be particularly vigilant.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on network segmentation to isolate Tenda W30E devices from critical infrastructure, limiting exposure to potential attacks. 2. Disable remote management interfaces on the router to reduce attack surface, especially access to the /goform/QuickIndex endpoint. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual or malformed HTTP requests targeting the PPPOEPassword parameter, employing intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with custom signatures. 4. Replace or upgrade affected Tenda W30E routers with models from vendors that provide timely security updates and patches. 5. If replacement is not immediately feasible, implement strict firewall rules to restrict access to the router’s management interface to trusted IP addresses only. 6. Engage with Tenda support channels to request official patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability. 7. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focusing on network edge devices to identify similar weaknesses. These steps go beyond generic advice by emphasizing network architecture adjustments, active monitoring, and vendor engagement tailored to this specific vulnerability.