CVE-2025-11098 is a command injection vulnerability identified in the D-Link DIR-823X router, specifically version 250416. The vulnerability resides in an unspecified function within the /goform/set_wifi_blacklists endpoint. The issue arises due to improper sanitization or validation of the macList argument, which an attacker can manipulate to inject arbitrary commands. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction or prior authentication, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/UI:N/PR:L). The attack complexity is low, meaning an attacker with limited privileges (likely a logged-in user or a user with some access) can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the device. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited but present (VC:L/VI:L/VA:L), indicating that the attacker could potentially access sensitive information, alter device configurations, or disrupt normal operations. Although no public exploit is confirmed to be in the wild, the exploit code has been made public, increasing the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, making it more dangerous in automated attack scenarios. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be available, increasing the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is significant because routers like the DIR-823X are critical network infrastructure devices, often used in homes and small offices, and compromise could lead to network-wide impacts or serve as a foothold for further attacks within an organization’s network.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and home office environments using the D-Link DIR-823X router. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the router, potentially leading to interception or manipulation of network traffic, unauthorized access to internal resources, or disruption of network connectivity. This could compromise the confidentiality of sensitive communications, integrity of network configurations, and availability of internet access. Given the router’s role as a gateway device, attackers could pivot to other internal systems, increasing the overall risk to organizational security. The medium severity rating reflects the limited but tangible impact on core security principles. European organizations with remote or distributed workforces relying on such consumer-grade routers are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, the absence of a patch increases the window of exposure. The threat is exacerbated by the public availability of exploit code, which lowers the barrier for attackers to attempt exploitation.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting remote access to the router’s management interface, ideally limiting it to trusted IP addresses or disabling remote management entirely if not required. 2. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate the router management interface from general user networks, reducing the attack surface. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual patterns or command injection attempts targeting the /goform/set_wifi_blacklists endpoint. 4. Apply any available firmware updates from D-Link as soon as they are released; if no official patch exists, consider contacting D-Link support for guidance or using beta/early patches if available. 5. Replace vulnerable devices with models confirmed to be free of this vulnerability if patching is not feasible in the short term. 6. Implement strong authentication mechanisms on the router, including changing default credentials and using complex passwords to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. 7. Employ network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for command injection attempts targeting D-Link routers. 8. Educate users about the risks of exposing router management interfaces to the internet and encourage best practices for home and office network security.