CVE-2023-47617 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in the Tp-Link ER7206 Omada Gigabit VPN Router firmware version 1.3.0 build 20230322 Rel.70591. The flaw exists in the web group member configuration functionality of the router’s web management interface. Specifically, the vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special characters in input fields, allowing an authenticated attacker to craft HTTP requests that inject arbitrary operating system commands. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78, which involves improper sanitization of inputs that are passed to OS commands. Exploitation requires the attacker to have valid credentials (post-authentication) but does not require user interaction beyond that. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges required are high (PR:H), indicating the attacker must be an authenticated user with administrative or similar rights. The impact is severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), potentially allowing full control over the device, data exfiltration, or denial of service. No public exploits are currently known, but the vulnerability is published and rated with a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.2. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for mitigation through network controls and monitoring. Given the router’s role in VPN and network management, exploitation could lead to broader network compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant. The Tp-Link ER7206 Omada Gigabit VPN Router is often deployed in enterprise and SMB environments to provide VPN connectivity and network segmentation. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the router, leading to full device compromise. This can result in interception or manipulation of VPN traffic, unauthorized access to internal networks, disruption of network services, and potential lateral movement within corporate environments. Confidential data traversing the VPN could be exposed or altered, undermining data privacy and compliance with regulations such as GDPR. Additionally, compromised routers could be used as footholds for launching further attacks or as part of botnets. The requirement for authentication limits the attack surface but insider threats or compromised credentials could facilitate exploitation. The absence of known public exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, especially as threat actors may develop exploits rapidly after disclosure.

1. Immediately restrict access to the router’s web management interface to trusted IP addresses or internal networks only, using firewall rules and network segmentation. 2. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and regularly update administrative credentials to reduce risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor router logs and network traffic for unusual or unauthorized configuration changes or command execution attempts. 4. Disable remote management interfaces if not strictly necessary, or enforce VPN-based access for management. 5. Apply firmware updates and patches from Tp-Link as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 6. Implement network intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics to detect exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on network infrastructure devices to identify similar weaknesses. 8. Educate administrators about the risks of post-authentication vulnerabilities and the importance of credential security.