CVE-2025-53712 is a medium-severity buffer overflow vulnerability affecting the TP-Link TL-WR841N V11 wireless router. The flaw resides in the /userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm_AP.htm web interface file, where insufficient input validation allows an attacker to overflow a buffer by sending crafted input parameters. This classic buffer overflow (CWE-120) can cause the embedded web service to crash, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without user interaction or authentication, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N). However, the CVSS vector also notes a requirement for high privileges (PR:H), which suggests that some form of privileged access is needed to exploit the flaw, limiting the attack surface somewhat. The affected product, TL-WR841N V11, is no longer supported by TP-Link, and no patches have been released, increasing risk for users who continue to operate this hardware. No known exploits are currently observed in the wild. The vulnerability impacts the availability of the device by crashing the web service, but does not directly affect confidentiality or integrity. The lack of input size checks is a common programming error leading to buffer overflows, which in other contexts could allow code execution, but here is reported to cause DoS only. The vulnerability was published on July 29, 2025, and is tracked under CWE-120 and CWE-119, both related to improper memory handling and buffer overflows. Given the product's discontinued status, mitigation options are limited to device replacement or network-level protections.

For European organizations, the impact primarily concerns availability disruptions of network infrastructure relying on the TP-Link TL-WR841N V11 router. This device is widely used in small office/home office (SOHO) environments and possibly in small enterprises due to its low cost and popularity. A successful attack could cause network outages by crashing the router's web management interface, potentially disrupting business operations, remote access, or internal communications. While the vulnerability does not enable remote code execution or data breaches, the denial-of-service could affect critical connectivity, especially in organizations with limited IT support or reliance on this specific hardware. Since the device is no longer supported, organizations using it face increased risk without vendor patches. The requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability somewhat reduces risk from external attackers but does not eliminate threats from insider attackers or attackers who have already compromised internal systems. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active exploitation, but the vulnerability remains a concern for legacy device users. Overall, the threat could lead to operational downtime and increased maintenance costs for affected European organizations.

Given the absence of vendor patches due to discontinued support, European organizations should prioritize replacing the TP-Link TL-WR841N V11 routers with currently supported models that receive security updates. Network segmentation can limit exposure by isolating legacy devices from critical infrastructure and sensitive data networks. Implement strict access controls to the router's management interface, restricting it to trusted internal IP addresses and using strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. Monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns targeting the router's web interface can help detect exploitation attempts early. Employ network-level protections such as firewalls or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to block malicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint (/userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm_AP.htm). Disable remote management features if not required to reduce the attack surface. Regularly audit network devices to identify unsupported hardware and plan for timely upgrades. For organizations unable to replace devices immediately, consider deploying virtual patching solutions or compensating controls to mitigate risk temporarily.