CVE-2024-57213 is a command injection vulnerability identified in the TOTOLINK A6000R router firmware version V1.0.1-B20201211.2000. The vulnerability resides in the action_passwd function, specifically through the newpasswd parameter. Command injection (CWE-77) allows an attacker to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected device by injecting malicious input into the parameter that is improperly sanitized or validated. This flaw can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring prior authentication, although user interaction is necessary, likely involving the submission of crafted requests to the router’s web interface or API. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.3 reflects a medium severity rating, with attack vector being network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction required (UI:R). The impact affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent (C:L/I:L/A:L). No patches or fixes have been linked yet, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized command execution, potentially leading to device compromise, network disruption, or data leakage. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure input validation in embedded device firmware, especially for network management functions.

The vulnerability could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected TOTOLINK A6000R routers, potentially leading to unauthorized control over the device. This may result in disruption of network services, interception or modification of network traffic, and compromise of internal network security. Organizations relying on these routers for critical network infrastructure could face degraded availability, loss of data confidentiality, and integrity breaches. Although exploitation requires user interaction, the lack of authentication requirement increases the attack surface, especially in environments where the router management interface is exposed or accessible to untrusted networks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity score indicates a significant threat if weaponized. This could impact home users, small businesses, and enterprises using this router model, particularly in regions where TOTOLINK devices have strong market penetration.

1. Immediately restrict access to the router’s management interface by limiting it to trusted internal networks and disabling remote management if not necessary. 2. Monitor network traffic and router logs for unusual or unauthorized commands or configuration changes. 3. Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices from critical infrastructure. 4. Employ web application firewalls or intrusion detection/prevention systems to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the newpasswd parameter. 5. Contact TOTOLINK support or check official channels regularly for firmware updates or patches addressing this vulnerability. 6. If patching is not yet available, consider replacing affected devices with models from vendors with a stronger security track record. 7. Educate users about the risks of interacting with unsolicited or suspicious network requests that could trigger exploitation. 8. Conduct regular security audits of network devices to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively.