How to fix CVE-2025-29165?

Within 24 hours: Audit inventory of all D-Link DIR-1253 MESH devices and isolate affected units from production networks if operationally feasible. Within 7 days: Implement network segmentation to restrict router management access to authorized personnel only, disable remote management features, and enforce strong authentication on all access points. Within 30 days: Contact D-Link for patch availability status weekly, evaluate replacement with alternative vendors, or implement compensating controls such as WAF rules blocking shadow file access patterns and continuous monitoring for unauthorized admin account creation.

Is D-Link affected by CVE-2025-29165?

A critical vulnerability in D-Link DIR-1253 MESH routers (v1.6.1684) enables attackers to gain administrative privileges without authorization. Organizations using these devices face immediate risk of complete network compromise, including unauthorized access to connected systems and data.

CVE-2025-29165

CRITICAL

2026-03-05 [email protected]

9.8

CVSS 3.1

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

Analysis Generated

Mar 12, 2026 - 22:06 vuln.today

CVE Published

Mar 05, 2026 - 20:16 nvd

CRITICAL 9.8

Description

An issue in D-Link DIR-1253 MESH V1.6.1684 allows an attacker to escalate privileges via the etc/shadow.sample component

Analysis

Privilege escalation in D-Link DIR-1253 MESH V1.6.1684 via etc/shadow.sample.

Technical Context

CWE-269.

Affected Products

['D-Link DIR-1253 MESH V1.6.1684']

Remediation

Update firmware.

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: +0.1

CVSS: +49

POC: 0

CVE-2025-29165 vulnerability details – vuln.today

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CVE-2025-29165

CVSS Vector

Lifecycle Timeline

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Description

Analysis

Technical Context

Affected Products

Remediation

Priority Score

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CVE-2025-29165

CVSS Vector

Lifecycle Timeline

Tags

Description

Analysis

Technical Context

Affected Products

Remediation

Priority Score

Share

External POC / Exploit Code