CVE-2023-4498 identifies a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in the Tenda N300 Wireless N VDSL2 Modem Router, specifically version V53.0.1.6_EN. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-305, which relates to authentication bypass due to primary weaknesses in the authentication mechanism. In this case, the router’s web management interface improperly restricts access, allowing unauthenticated users to reach pages that should require valid credentials. This flaw could enable attackers to view or modify sensitive router settings, including network configurations, firewall rules, and potentially firmware updates. The lack of authentication enforcement undermines the router’s security posture, exposing the device to unauthorized control. Although no public exploits have been reported, the vulnerability’s nature suggests it could be exploited remotely if the management interface is exposed to untrusted networks. The affected product is commonly used in small office and home office environments, where such routers serve as the primary gateway to the internet. The absence of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on impact and exploitability factors. The vulnerability’s exploitation requires no authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The scope is limited to devices running the specified firmware version, but given the widespread use of Tenda routers, the potential attack surface is considerable. The vulnerability was published on September 6, 2023, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation currently relies on network-level controls and vendor updates when available.

For European organizations, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and residential users relying on Tenda N300 routers, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security. Unauthorized access to router management interfaces can lead to configuration tampering, including DNS hijacking, disabling security features, or creating persistent backdoors. This compromises confidentiality by exposing internal network details and integrity by allowing malicious configuration changes. Availability could also be impacted if attackers disrupt router functionality. Given the router’s role as a network gateway, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement within internal networks or enable man-in-the-middle attacks. The impact is heightened in environments where remote management is enabled or where routers are directly accessible from the internet. European organizations with limited IT security resources may be particularly vulnerable due to reliance on default or outdated firmware. The absence of known exploits suggests limited current active exploitation, but the vulnerability’s characteristics warrant proactive mitigation to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediately restrict access to the router’s management interface by limiting it to trusted internal IP addresses or VLANs. 2. Disable remote management features, especially if not required, to prevent exposure to external networks. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual access attempts to the router’s web interface. 4. Regularly check for firmware updates from Tenda and apply patches promptly once available. 5. If possible, replace affected devices with models from vendors with stronger security track records or that have released patches. 6. Implement network segmentation to isolate critical assets from devices with known vulnerabilities. 7. Educate users on the risks of default credentials and encourage changing default passwords to strong, unique ones. 8. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) to detect anomalous activities targeting router management interfaces. 9. Maintain an inventory of network devices to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable hardware. 10. Consider deploying additional security controls such as VPNs for remote management to add authentication layers.