CVE-2025-44175 is a medium-severity buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the Tenda AC10 v4 router firmware version V16.03.10.13. The vulnerability resides in the GetParentControlInfo function, which is likely part of the parental control feature of the device. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including crashes or execution of arbitrary code. According to the CVSS v3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N), the vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires some level of privileges (PR:L), and does not require user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects confidentiality and integrity to a low degree (C:L/I:L) but does not affect availability (A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-120, which corresponds to classic buffer overflow issues. Given that the affected product is a consumer-grade router, exploitation could allow an attacker with limited privileges (e.g., authenticated user or attacker with access to the local network or via some authentication bypass) to potentially escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from the device memory. This could lead to compromise of network traffic or further lateral movement within a network. The lack of a vendor project or detailed product information limits the ability to assess the full attack surface, but the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used router model is concerning.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the deployment of Tenda AC10 v4 routers within their network infrastructure. Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and home offices may use consumer-grade routers like the Tenda AC10 due to cost-effectiveness. Exploitation could lead to leakage of sensitive information or unauthorized access to internal networks, potentially enabling attackers to intercept or manipulate network traffic. This could undermine confidentiality and integrity of communications, especially if the router is used as a gateway device. While the vulnerability does not directly affect availability, the potential for privilege escalation or information disclosure poses a risk to organizational security posture. Given the low complexity of attack and no user interaction required, attackers with some level of access could exploit this vulnerability to gain further foothold. This is particularly relevant for organizations with remote workers or less stringent network segmentation, where compromised routers could serve as entry points for broader attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests that immediate widespread exploitation is unlikely, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to prevent future risks.

1. Network Segmentation: Isolate consumer-grade routers like the Tenda AC10 from critical internal networks to limit potential lateral movement if compromised. 2. Access Controls: Restrict administrative access to the router interfaces to trusted personnel only, and enforce strong authentication mechanisms. 3. Monitoring and Logging: Enable detailed logging on routers and monitor for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Firmware Updates: Regularly check for firmware updates from Tenda or trusted sources, and apply patches promptly once available. 5. Replace or Upgrade: Consider replacing vulnerable consumer-grade routers with enterprise-grade devices that receive regular security updates and have stronger security controls. 6. Network Traffic Inspection: Deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect anomalous traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts targeting router vulnerabilities. 7. Vendor Engagement: Engage with Tenda or authorized distributors to obtain information on patch availability or mitigation guidance specific to this vulnerability. 8. Privilege Minimization: Limit the number of users with elevated privileges on the router to reduce the risk of exploitation by insiders or compromised accounts.