CVE-2025-14631 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability classified under CWE-476, found in the TP-Link Archer BE400 V1 Wi-Fi 6 USB adapter's 802.11 modules. This flaw occurs when the device improperly handles certain inputs or states, leading to a NULL pointer dereference that causes the device firmware to crash and reboot unexpectedly. The vulnerability can be triggered by an adjacent attacker—meaning someone within wireless range—without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The affected firmware version is xi 1.1.0 Build 20250710 rel.14914. Exploitation results in a denial-of-service condition by forcing the device to reboot, disrupting network connectivity for the user. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a high impact on availability (VA:H). No known public exploits exist yet, and no patches have been released at the time of publication. The vulnerability is significant because it affects the availability of network devices that may be widely deployed in home and enterprise environments, potentially interrupting critical communications.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-14631 is the potential for denial-of-service on network connectivity due to forced reboots of the Archer BE400 devices. This can disrupt business operations, especially in environments relying on these adapters for stable Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government could experience interruptions in network access, leading to productivity losses or degraded service delivery. Since the attack requires adjacency, environments with dense wireless deployments or public Wi-Fi hotspots are at higher risk. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as part of a broader attack to cause network instability or to facilitate lateral movement by causing device outages. Although no data confidentiality or integrity impact is indicated, the availability disruption alone can have significant operational consequences.

Organizations should immediately inventory their network devices to identify any TP-Link Archer BE400 adapters running the affected firmware version. Since no patches are currently available, mitigation should focus on reducing the attack surface: segment wireless networks to limit adjacency exposure, disable or restrict use of vulnerable devices where possible, and monitor for unusual device reboots or network disruptions. Employing wireless intrusion detection systems (WIDS) can help detect suspicious activity in the adjacent network space. Organizations should maintain close communication with TP-Link for firmware updates and apply patches promptly once released. Additionally, consider deploying alternative network adapters from vendors without known vulnerabilities to reduce risk. Network administrators should also educate users about the risks of connecting to untrusted wireless networks where attackers could be present.