CVE-2026-24428 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-863, affecting Shenzhen Tenda Technology Co., Ltd.'s W30E V2 router firmware versions up to and including V16.01.0.19(5037). The vulnerability resides in the user management API, where role-based access controls enforced by the web interface can be circumvented by sending crafted requests directly to the backend endpoint. This flaw allows a low-privileged authenticated user to change the administrator account password without proper authorization, effectively escalating privileges to full administrative control. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.7, indicating high severity, with attack vector being network-based (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required beyond low-level authentication (PR:L), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as an attacker can fully control the device, modify configurations, and potentially disrupt network operations. No public exploits are currently reported, but the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be weaponized easily once disclosed. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation through network segmentation and access restrictions. This vulnerability is particularly critical for environments relying on these routers for network perimeter security or internal segmentation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and home office setups that commonly use consumer-grade routers like the Tenda W30E V2. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full administrative access to the router, enabling them to alter network configurations, intercept or redirect traffic, deploy persistent backdoors, or disrupt network availability. This can lead to data breaches, lateral movement within corporate networks, and compromise of connected devices. The impact extends to confidentiality (unauthorized data access), integrity (configuration tampering), and availability (potential denial of service). Given the widespread use of such routers in less-secured environments, the threat could facilitate broader attacks on corporate networks and critical infrastructure. Additionally, the lack of current patches increases exposure time, raising the likelihood of exploitation in the wild. European organizations with remote or hybrid workforces relying on these devices are particularly vulnerable.

1. Immediately restrict access to the router’s management interface by limiting it to trusted internal networks or specific IP addresses using firewall rules. 2. Disable remote management features if not strictly necessary to reduce exposure. 3. Monitor network traffic for unusual API requests targeting the user management endpoints, which may indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Enforce strong authentication policies and consider multi-factor authentication if supported by the device. 5. Segment networks to isolate vulnerable devices from critical infrastructure and sensitive data. 6. Regularly audit and review router configurations and logs for unauthorized changes. 7. Stay alert for official firmware updates from Shenzhen Tenda and apply patches promptly once available. 8. Consider replacing affected devices with models from vendors with stronger security track records if patching is delayed or unavailable. 9. Educate users about the risks of using default or weak credentials and the importance of secure device management.