CVE-2022-45648 is a high-severity buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the Tenda AC6V1.0 router firmware version 15.03.05.19. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of the 'devName' parameter within the formSetDeviceName function. Specifically, the buffer overflow occurs when the input to the devName parameter exceeds the allocated buffer size, leading to memory corruption. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-120, which pertains to classic buffer overflow issues that can result in arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector (7.5), the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) without any privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), making it relatively easy to exploit. The impact is primarily on availability (A:H), indicating that successful exploitation could cause the device to crash or reboot, disrupting network connectivity. There is no indication of confidentiality or integrity impact, suggesting that data theft or manipulation is not the primary concern. No patches or official vendor mitigations have been published at the time of this analysis, and no known exploits are currently observed in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved on 2022-11-21 and published on 2022-12-02, with enrichment from CISA, highlighting its recognized importance. The affected product is the Tenda AC6 router, a consumer-grade Wi-Fi 6 router commonly used in home and small office environments. The lack of vendor and product details in the metadata limits the scope of direct attribution, but the technical details confirm the affected device and firmware version.

For European organizations, the primary impact of this vulnerability lies in potential denial of service attacks on network infrastructure, particularly where Tenda AC6 routers are deployed. Disruption of network availability can affect business continuity, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) relying on these routers for internet connectivity. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the resulting network outages can hinder operations, remote work, and access to cloud services. Given the ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction, attackers could launch automated attacks from the internet, targeting exposed routers. This could lead to widespread service interruptions, increased support costs, and reputational damage. Additionally, compromised routers could be used as pivot points in larger attacks or botnets, indirectly impacting organizational security. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation, especially as exploit code may be developed given the public disclosure. Organizations using Tenda AC6 routers in critical network segments should consider the risk of availability loss and potential cascading effects on dependent systems and services.

1. Immediate Network Segmentation: Isolate Tenda AC6 routers from critical network segments to limit the impact of potential denial of service attacks. 2. Firmware Update Monitoring: Continuously monitor Tenda's official channels for firmware updates or security advisories addressing this vulnerability and apply patches promptly once available. 3. Access Control: Restrict remote management interfaces of Tenda AC6 routers to trusted IP addresses or VPN connections to reduce exposure to internet-based attacks. 4. Network Traffic Filtering: Implement firewall rules to block unsolicited inbound traffic targeting router management ports or known vulnerable endpoints. 5. Device Replacement Consideration: For environments where high availability is critical and patching is delayed, consider replacing affected Tenda AC6 routers with devices from vendors with active security support. 6. Intrusion Detection: Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to monitor for anomalous traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts targeting buffer overflow vulnerabilities. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Develop and test response plans for network outages caused by router failures to minimize downtime. 8. Vendor Engagement: Engage with Tenda support channels to request security updates and clarify timelines for patch releases.