CVE-2026-22220 identifies a vulnerability in TP-Link Archer BE230 v1.2 wireless access points, specifically in the HTTP processing component of the device’s web management interface. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20), where crafted HTTP requests can trigger a denial of service by causing the web service to become unresponsive. This vulnerability requires the attacker to be network adjacent and possess high privileges, such as administrative access to the device or network segment. Exploitation involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests that the device’s web server fails to handle correctly, leading to a temporary service outage until the device either recovers automatically or is manually rebooted. The vulnerability affects firmware versions prior to 1.2.4 Build 20251218 rel.70420. While it does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the denial of service impacts availability, potentially disrupting network management and user connectivity. No public exploits are known, and no user interaction is required for exploitation. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/VA:H) indicates that the attack vector is adjacent network, with low attack complexity, no user interaction, but requiring high privileges and causing high impact on availability. This vulnerability is relevant for environments relying on this specific TP-Link device model, especially where network uptime and management access are critical.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-22220 is the potential denial of service of TP-Link Archer BE230 devices, which could disrupt network management and connectivity. This can affect small office/home office (SOHO) environments or branch offices relying on these devices for wireless access and network routing. The temporary unavailability of the web interface may delay administrative tasks, firmware updates, or troubleshooting, increasing operational risk. In critical infrastructure or business environments where continuous network availability is essential, such disruptions could lead to productivity losses or impact dependent services. Although the vulnerability does not allow data theft or device takeover, the denial of service could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain or cause cascading failures if network redundancy is limited. The requirement for high privileges limits exploitation to insiders or attackers who have already compromised network segments, but this does not eliminate risk in environments with weak internal controls or lateral movement by attackers.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading affected TP-Link Archer BE230 devices to firmware version 1.2.4 Build 20251218 rel.70420 or later, where the input validation issue is resolved. If immediate patching is not possible, restrict administrative access to the device’s web interface by limiting network segments that can reach it, using VLAN segmentation and firewall rules to isolate management interfaces. Implement strong authentication and access control policies to prevent unauthorized users from gaining high privileges on the network. Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP requests targeting the device’s management interface that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regularly audit device firmware versions and configurations to ensure compliance with security best practices. Additionally, maintain backups of device configurations to enable rapid recovery after a reboot or failure. Consider deploying network monitoring tools that can alert on device unavailability or service interruptions to enable swift incident response.