External risk intelligence

Tenda AC23 Stack Overflow Allows Remote Code Execution.

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2022-32385

The product is a consumer-grade wireless router. These devices are designed to serve as the internet gateway for a network, frequently exposing administrative or management interfaces to the network, and are often reachable from the public internet if misconfigured or if remote management features are enabled.

Out-of-bounds Write

Tendacn Ac23 Ac2100 Firmware

16.03.07.44

Halo Surface Signal: 5 out of 5 — more likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A critical vulnerability has been identified in Tenda AC23 devices, specifically within the firmware version 16.03.07.44. This security flaw, classified as a stack overflow, could potentially allow for the execution of arbitrary code remotely, posing a significant risk to the affected devices and the networks they manage. The nature of this vulnerability means it could be exploited without requiring any user interaction or special privileges.

Code execution flaw found in Tenda routers.
Critical flaw impacts internet gateway devices.
Assess relevance and exposure to networks.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted network traffic to the affected device. This traffic targets a weak point in the device's firmware, potentially allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely.

Accessible from the network.
Triggered by network data.
Remote code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the router. This could lead to the compromise of the router's functions and potentially impact devices on the local network.

Router's command execution capability.
Remote unauthenticated network access.
Router control and local network impact.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The Tenda AC23 router's firmware is susceptible to a critical stack overflow vulnerability, enabling remote code execution. Ownership of this issue will likely fall to the infrastructure or network security teams responsible for managing network edge devices. The initial practical step is to identify all deployed Tenda AC23 routers, assess their external reachability and business criticality, and then prioritize remediation based on risk.

Infrastructure or Network Security teams own.
Verify external reachability and criticality.
Plan phased remediation based on risk.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Free EASM Trial See How Signal Works

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tenda AC23?

The Tenda AC23 is a consumer-grade wireless router designed to function as an internet gateway. It acts as the central hub that manages network traffic, connects local devices to the internet, and provides basic security for home or small office environments.

What does CVE-2022-32385 mean?

This CVE identifies a stack overflow, which is classified as CWE-787. In this context, it means the router's firmware fails to properly manage the data sent to it, allowing that data to overwrite memory. This flaw enables an attacker to remotely execute their own code on the device, essentially taking control of the router's internal functions.

How is this vulnerability triggered?

An attacker triggers this flaw by sending specially crafted network traffic to the router. Because the vulnerability exists within the firmware's processing logic, it does not require the attacker to have an existing account or password. It is not triggered by standard web browsing; the attacker must specifically target the router with malicious data packets.

Why should I care about this router vulnerability?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this device is a consumer-grade router typically positioned as an internet gateway, meaning it is often directly reachable from the public internet. If your device is configured to allow remote management or is exposed to the web, an attacker could compromise your entire local network connection by exploiting this flaw.

Do I need to secure my Tenda AC23 device?

Yes. First, perform an inventory to locate all Tenda AC23 routers in your environment. Next, evaluate whether these devices are reachable from the internet. Prioritize these units for remediation, as they serve as the bridge between your private network and the public internet, making their security vital for overall network integrity.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.