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Full vulnerability report · 2024
CVE-2023-50224High confidence

TP-Link TL-WR841N Authentication Bypass by Spoofing Vulnerability

TP-Link · TL-WR841N

6.5MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2025-09-24 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Critical, raised 2 bands.upgradedsince 3 Sep 2025

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • EPSS is 15.56% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs TP-Link TL-WR841N and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2023-55046

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. Was ZDI-CAN-19899.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 3 Sep 2025. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
6.5 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2025-09-24 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

TP-Link TL-WR841N contains an authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default, leading to the disclose of stored credentials. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.

What

TP-Link TL-WR841N contains an authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default, leading to the disclose of stored credentials. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.

Why

This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

What

TP-Link TL-WR841N contains an authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default, leading to the disclose of stored credentials. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.

Why

This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2025-09-03.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
an adjacent network → Authentication Bypass by Spoofing → bypass an access boundary or take over an account
Attack surface
Adjacent
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-290 ↗

CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing. This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVAdjacentAttack vector: The attacker must be on an adjacent or logically close network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.ANoneAvailability impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
UnauthenticatedCWE-290CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-55046Known-exploited evidence recorded

TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. Was ZDI-CAN-19899.

Official EUVD record ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20240508Security Bulletin 08 May 2024

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 08 May 2024, published on 8 May 2024. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2023-029479TP-LINK Technologies の TL-WR841N ファームウェアにおけるスプーフィングによる認証回避に関する脆弱性

TP-LINK Technologies の TL-WR841N ファームウェアには、スプーフィングによる認証回避に関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6738TP-Link 제품 보안 업데이트 권고

TP-Link Archer C7, TL-WR841N, TL-WR941ND, TL-WA901ND에서 발생하는 Authentication Bypass by Spoofing 취약점(CVE-2023-50224) [4]

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6576美 CISA 발표 주요 Exploit 정보공유(Update. 2025-09-03)

TP-Link TL-WR841N contains an authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default, leading to the disclose of stored credentials. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 3 May 2024 · Last source change 2 Sept 2026, 17:58 UTC · CWE-290 · Authentication Bypass by Spoofing

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-55046
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808.
    Before
    vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    After
    remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808 · vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com ↗
  2. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-WR841ND: V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-MR6400: V1, V2; Archer C5: V2; Archer C7: V2, V3; TL-WDR3600: V2; TL-WDR4300: V1; TL-WDR3500: V2; TL-WR740N: V4, V5, V6, V7; TL-WR741ND: V4, V5, V6; TL-WR749N: BR 6.0, BR 7.0; TL-MR3420: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1043ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1045ND: RU V2; TL-WR840N: V2, V3; TL-WR842N: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR842ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR845N: V1, V2; TL-WR941ND: V5, V6; TL-WR945N: V1; TL-WA801ND: V3, V4; TL-WA901ND: V3, V4, V5 · Fixed: TL-WR841N: V11_211209, V12_230317; TL-WR841ND: V11_211209, V12_230317; Archer C7: V2_241108; TL-WR941ND: V6_220610; TL-WA901ND: V4_201030, V5_201030
    CNA ↗
  3. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Patch available
    zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com ↗
  4. CVSS scoreCVSS scoring authority changed from Other authority to CNA; the displayed base score remained 6.5.
    Before
    6.5 (CVSS 3.1 · Other authority · CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    After
    6.5 (CVSS 3.1 · CNA · CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    CNA ↗
  5. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    3.16.9 build 200409; V8; V9; V10; V11; V12; V1; V2 · Fixed: V11_211209; V12_230317; V2_241108
    After
    TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-WR841ND: V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-MR6400: V1, V2; Archer C5: V2; Archer C7: V2, V3; TL-WDR3600: V2; TL-WDR4300: V1; TL-WDR3500: V2; TL-WR740N: V4, V5, V6, V7; TL-WR741ND: V4, V5, V6; TL-WR749N: BR 6.0, BR 7.0; TL-MR3420: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1043ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1045ND: RU V2; TL-WR840N: V2, V3; TL-WR842N: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR842ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR845N: V1, V2; TL-WR941ND: V5, V6; TL-WR945N: V1; TL-WA801ND: V3, V4; TL-WA901ND: V3, V4, V5 · Fixed: TL-WR841N: V11_211209, V12_230317; TL-WR841ND: V11_211209, V12_230317; Archer C7: V2_241108; TL-WR941ND: V6_220610; TL-WA901ND: V4_201030, V5_201030
    CNA ↗
  6. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058.
    Before
    remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808
    After
    remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808 · vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com ↗
  7. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808; removed remediation: tp-link.com/5058; removed vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058.
    Before
    remediation: tp-link.com/5058 · vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    After
    remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808
    CNA ↗
  8. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added remediation: tp-link.com/5058; added vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058.
    Before
    no authoritative guidance recorded
    After
    remediation: tp-link.com/5058 · vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    tp-link.com ↗
  9. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    3.16.9 build 200409 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    3.16.9 build 200409; V8; V9; V10; V11; V12; V1; V2 · Fixed: V11_211209; V12_230317; V2_241108
    CNA ↗
  10. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Patch available
    tp-link.com ↗
  11. CVSS scoreCVSS version changed from 3.0 to 3.1; the displayed base score remains 6.5.
    Before
    6.5 (CVSS 3.0 · CNA · CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    After
    6.5 (CVSS 3.1 · CNA · CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    CNA ↗
  12. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: removed remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808.
    Before
    remediation: zerodayinitiative.com/ZDI-23-1808 · vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    After
    vendor advisory: tp-link.com/5058
    zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com ↗
  13. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-WR841ND: V8, V9, V10, V11, V12; TL-MR6400: V1, V2; Archer C5: V2; Archer C7: V2, V3; TL-WDR3600: V2; TL-WDR4300: V1; TL-WDR3500: V2; TL-WR740N: V4, V5, V6, V7; TL-WR741ND: V4, V5, V6; TL-WR749N: BR 6.0, BR 7.0; TL-MR3420: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1043ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR1045ND: RU V2; TL-WR840N: V2, V3; TL-WR842N: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR842ND: V2, V3, V4; TL-WR845N: V1, V2; TL-WR941ND: V5, V6; TL-WR945N: V1; TL-WA801ND: V3, V4; TL-WA901ND: V3, V4, V5 · Fixed: TL-WR841N: V11_211209, V12_230317; TL-WR841ND: V11_211209, V12_230317; Archer C7: V2_241108; TL-WR941ND: V6_220610; TL-WA901ND: V4_201030, V5_201030
    After
    TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    CNA ↗
  14. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Patch available to Awaiting fix.
    Before
    Patch available
    After
    Awaiting fix
    zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com ↗
  15. CVSS scoreCVSS scoring authority changed from CNA to Other authority; the displayed base score remained 6.5.
    Before
    6.5 (CVSS 3.1 · CNA · CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    After
    6.5 (CVSS 3.1 · Other authority · CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
    Other authority ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-55046↗CISA KEV record↗Vendor advisory↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2023-50224 · cve.blacktree.nl