CVE-2025-14738 is a medium-severity improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287) identified in TP-Link WA850RE Wi-Fi range extenders, specifically affecting versions V2_160527 and V3_160922. The flaw resides in the httpd modules of these devices, which handle web-based management interfaces. Due to improper authentication controls, an unauthenticated attacker with network access can download the device's configuration file without any credentials or user interaction. This configuration file likely contains sensitive information such as Wi-Fi credentials, network settings, and possibly administrative passwords or keys. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 score of 5.7, reflecting that it is exploitable over the network (attack vector: adjacent network), requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts confidentiality with high impact. The vulnerability was reserved on December 15, 2025, and published on December 18, 2025. No patches or firmware updates are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. Exploitation could allow attackers to gain insight into network configurations, facilitating lateral movement, unauthorized access, or further attacks against the network. The affected devices are commonly used in home and small office environments to extend Wi-Fi coverage, but their compromise can pose risks in enterprise or critical infrastructure settings where these devices are deployed.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network confidentiality and security posture. Exposure of configuration files can lead to leakage of Wi-Fi passwords, administrative credentials, and network topology information, enabling attackers to infiltrate internal networks or pivot to more critical systems. Organizations relying on TP-Link WA850RE devices in office environments or branch locations may face increased risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. The impact is heightened in sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government. Additionally, compromised devices could be leveraged as footholds for further attacks or as part of botnets. The lack of authentication requirement and ease of exploitation over the network make this vulnerability particularly concerning in environments where these devices are accessible from untrusted networks or poorly segmented internal networks.

1. Immediately assess and inventory all TP-Link WA850RE devices within the organization to identify affected versions (V2_160527 and V3_160922). 2. Disable remote management interfaces on these devices to prevent external network access. 3. Segment networks to isolate Wi-Fi extenders from critical infrastructure and sensitive systems, limiting attacker lateral movement. 4. Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP requests targeting device management interfaces, especially attempts to download configuration files. 5. Apply any available firmware updates or patches from TP-Link as soon as they are released. 6. If patches are unavailable, consider replacing affected devices with models not vulnerable to this issue. 7. Change all default and known credentials on these devices to strong, unique passwords. 8. Implement network access controls restricting access to device management interfaces to authorized personnel only. 9. Educate IT staff about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include steps for compromised network devices. 10. Regularly audit device configurations and logs for signs of unauthorized access or configuration downloads.