CVE-2024-33180 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Tenda AC18 router firmware version V15.03.3.10_EN. The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-120) triggered via the deviceId parameter in the HTTP endpoint ip/goform/saveParentControlInfo. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to send specially crafted requests that overflow the stack buffer, enabling arbitrary code execution on the device. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating its critical nature, with attack vector as network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). Successful exploitation can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the router, potentially allowing attackers to take full control, intercept or manipulate network traffic, or disrupt network services. The vulnerability was published on July 16, 2024, with no patches or known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. Given the router’s role as a network gateway device, exploitation could have cascading effects on connected systems and networks. The absence of authentication requirements and the network accessibility of the vulnerable endpoint make this flaw particularly dangerous. The vulnerability was reserved on April 23, 2024, and is tracked under CWE-120, a common and well-understood class of memory corruption bugs.

The impact of CVE-2024-33180 is severe for organizations using the Tenda AC18 router, as exploitation can lead to full device compromise without any authentication or user interaction. Attackers can execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, potentially allowing them to intercept, modify, or block network traffic, deploy malware, or use the device as a foothold for further attacks within the network. This can result in loss of confidentiality of sensitive data, integrity violations through unauthorized changes, and availability disruptions via device crashes or denial-of-service conditions. Given the router’s position as a network gateway, the compromise could extend to internal networks, affecting multiple connected devices and critical infrastructure. The lack of available patches increases the risk window, and the ease of exploitation makes it attractive for attackers. Organizations relying on this hardware for home or small office networks are particularly vulnerable, but larger enterprises using these devices in branch offices or remote sites may also be impacted.

Until an official patch is released by Tenda, organizations should implement the following mitigations: 1) Restrict network access to the router’s management interface by limiting exposure to trusted internal networks only, using firewall rules or VLAN segmentation. 2) Disable remote management features if enabled, especially access to the vulnerable endpoint ip/goform/saveParentControlInfo. 3) Monitor network traffic for unusual or malformed HTTP requests targeting the deviceId parameter or the affected endpoint. 4) Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with updated signatures to detect exploitation attempts. 5) Consider replacing vulnerable devices with alternative hardware from vendors with timely security updates if immediate patching is not feasible. 6) Maintain strict network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised device. 7) Stay informed on vendor advisories and apply patches promptly once available. 8) Conduct regular security assessments of network devices to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.