External risk intelligence

Tenda AC15 Session Hijacking via Weak Authentication Cookie

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2025-63666

This CVE affects a Tenda AC15 wireless router. Routers are network edge devices frequently deployed with administrative interfaces reachable over the network. While often intended for local management, these devices are commonly exposed to the internet or reachable by unauthorized parties on the local network, making the vulnerable management surface a common point of exposure.

Tenda Ac15 Firmware

15.03.05.18

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 concerns a vulnerability in Tenda AC15 wireless routers that could allow unauthorized access to protected resources by exposing account password hashes and using easily guessable session identifiers. An attacker with network access or the ability to run JavaScript in a victim's browser could potentially steal a session cookie and impersonate a legitimate user.

  • Weaknesses in session handling can expose sensitive information.
  • Protects network access, a common attack vector.
  • Confirm relevance and assess potential exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could gain access to a Tenda AC15 router, potentially by running malicious JavaScript in a user's browser or by being on the same network. This allows them to steal a specially crafted authentication cookie. The router then incorrectly uses this stolen cookie to grant the attacker access to protected administrative functions, bypassing normal login requirements.

  • Attacker needs network access or code execution.
  • Stolen authentication cookie is replayed.
  • Unauthorized access to router functions.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A vulnerability in Tenda AC15 firmware could allow an attacker to gain access to protected resources by stealing an authentication cookie. This could occur when an attacker has network access or can execute JavaScript in a user's browser. The affected cookie exposes the account password hash and uses a weak session identifier, making it easier to compromise.

  • Router administration access at risk.
  • Cookie theft via network or JS.
  • Unauthorized access to device functions.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Determining precise ownership for this router vulnerability requires understanding your specific network architecture and device management policies. Typically, the infrastructure or network team would be accountable for managing edge devices like this Tenda router. The immediate first step is to identify all instances of this device, confirm their exposure to untrusted networks, and then assign ownership for remediation based on the identified risk and business criticality.

  • Infrastructure or network team ownership.
  • Verify device exposure and criticality.
  • Plan remediation based on risk.

Supplementary metadata

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tenda AC15 router?

The Tenda AC15 is a wireless router used to provide network connectivity in homes and small offices. It manages internet traffic, distributes Wi-Fi signals, and includes an administrative interface that allows users to configure settings like security, port forwarding, and system passwords.

How does CVE-2025-63666 expose sensitive data?

This vulnerability involves improper access control (CWE-284). The router generates authentication cookies that contain a hash of the user's password and use weak, predictable session identifiers. Because the cookie itself contains sensitive account information and is easily guessable, it does not securely maintain a user's logged-in state.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker needs network access to the router or the ability to execute JavaScript in a victim's browser. Once they obtain a valid session cookie, they can replay it to impersonate the administrator. Simply browsing the web or being on a secure, isolated network without malicious code execution or direct network access to the management interface does not trigger the bug.

Is my device at risk based on Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal identifies this as a high-priority concern because the Tenda AC15 is a network edge device. These routers are often exposed to the internet or reachable by unauthorized parties on the local network. If your administrative interface is accessible via the internet or untrusted networks, the device is significantly more vulnerable to this exploit.

What steps should I take to respond to this issue?

First, identify all Tenda AC15 routers within your environment. Verify whether their management interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks. Coordinate with your network or infrastructure team to restrict access to these administrative panels and prioritize updating or securing affected devices based on their business criticality and exposure level.

References