External risk intelligence

Tenda TX9 Firmware Stack Overflow Vulnerability

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2024-51314

The vulnerability resides in a Tenda wireless router's web-based configuration interface. Routers are network edge devices, and their administrative management interfaces are commonly exposed to the local network or, in many misconfigured or default deployments, directly accessible via the public internet.

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This advisory highlights a critical vulnerability in Tenda router firmware that could allow unauthenticated attackers to take control of network devices. The issue lies in a flaw within the device's web administration settings, potentially impacting network security and data integrity.

Flaw lets attackers control routers remotely.
Important for securing network edge devices.
Confirm exposure and relevance to our infrastructure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to the device's web interface. This would trigger a stack overflow within the `setMacFilterCfg` function, potentially allowing the attacker to gain control over the device.

Exposed web interface required.
Stack overflow in `setMacFilterCfg` function.
Leads to device compromise.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to crash the device or potentially execute arbitrary code by sending a specially crafted request to the web-based configuration interface. This could disrupt network services for users connected to the router.

Device availability and network services.
Unauthenticated network requests.
Network disruption and potential compromise.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability affects Tenda TX9 V22.03.02.20 firmware, likely managed by network infrastructure or platform teams responsible for internet-facing devices. The immediate first step is to identify all instances of this firmware, assess their exposure and business criticality, and then determine the accountable owner for remediation planning.

Network and platform teams should own.
Verify device reachability and criticality.
Plan remediation based on risk assessment.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Tenda TX9 router?

The Tenda TX9 is a wireless networking device designed to manage home or small office internet connectivity. Its firmware, specifically version V22.03.02.20, acts as the core operating system that handles routing traffic and provides a web-based administration panel. This interface allows users to configure network settings like MAC address filtering, which is where the vulnerability exists.

What does CVE-2024-51314 mean by stack overflow?

A stack overflow is a weakness, classified as CWE-121, where a program writes more data to a specific memory area than it is designed to hold. In this CVE, the router's software lacks proper checks when processing input in the 'setMacFilterCfg' function. Because the memory is overwritten, the device may crash or allow an attacker to bypass normal security controls to execute unauthorized commands.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker triggers this bug by sending a specially crafted request to the router's web-based administration interface. The flaw is specific to the handling of configuration inputs; simply visiting the login page or browsing through unrelated settings does not activate the overflow. The malicious action must target the specific 'setMacFilterCfg' process to force the memory error.

Is my Tenda TX9 device at risk?

Your device is at higher risk if the web administration interface is reachable over the network. Halo Surface Signal notes that while these routers are typically intended for local network management, they are frequently misconfigured or set to allow access from the public internet. If your router's management page is exposed to the internet, it is a primary target for remote exploitation.

How do I respond to this firmware vulnerability?

Start by identifying all Tenda TX9 devices within your network environment running firmware version V22.03.02.20. Once located, verify if their administrative interfaces are accessible over the network and determine the business impact if these devices were compromised. Coordinate with the relevant infrastructure team to plan for updates or restrict management access to trusted, internal connections only.

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.