Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach router CGI interface
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DeliverySend crafted POST to cstecgi.cgi setNtpCfg
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ExploitInject shell metacharacters via tz argument
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ExecutionCommand execution as root
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ImpactFull device takeover and network pivot
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires network reachability to the router's CGI endpoint /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi and the ability to invoke the setNtpCfg function with a malicious 'tz' (time zone) argument; per the CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N) no authentication, no special attack requirements, and no user interaction are needed against the affected firmware. The concrete prerequisite is simply that the management HTTP interface exposing cstecgi.cgi is reachable from the attacker's position. The practical LIMIT on exploitation is exposure of that interface: many deployments do not expose the web admin to the WAN by default, so real-world attack surface is largely confined to devices with remote/WAN administration enabled or attackers already on the LAN, and exploitation is constrained to the specific model A8000RU on firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521. |
| Impact | Signals are largely consistent toward real, but not yet widespread, risk. The CVSS 4.0 vector rates it 8.9 (High) with network vector, low complexity, no privileges and no user interaction, and total confidentiality/integrity/availability impact - a straightforward unauthenticated RCE profile. SSVC reinforces this: exploitation is 'poc', automatable 'yes', and technical impact 'total', which argues for prompt action. However, EPSS is only 0.89% (76th percentile) and there is NO CISA KEV entry, indicating that although a working public POC exists, broad opportunistic exploitation has not yet been observed. The main caveat is source diversity: all intelligence traces back to a single VulDB submission and its linked GitHub POC, so affected-version breadth and vendor confirmation are limited. Net: treat as a genuine high-priority issue for anyone running this specific device, but the low EPSS and absence of KEV suggest current exploitation is opportunistic/targeted rather than mass-scale. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who can reach the router's web interface sends a crafted HTTP POST to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi invoking setNtpCfg with a 'tz' value containing shell metacharacters (e.g. a semicolon or backtick followed by commands). The injected commands run with web-server privileges (typically root), giving full device takeover - persistence, traffic interception, or pivoting into the internal network. A public POC exists (linked GitHub README), and the low attack complexity means the exploit can be scripted and automated. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 24, 2026
OS command injection in the TOTOLINK A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) lets remote unauthenticated attackers execute arbitrary system commands by manipulating the 'tz' parameter of the setNtpCfg function in /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi. Publicly available exploit code exists (published via VulDB), and the CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, total impact) reflects unauthenticated network reachability with full compromise, though EPSS remains modest at 0.89%. This is no public exploit identified as actively exploited - there is no CISA KEV listing at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis - TOTOLINK has not published a fixed firmware version in the available data, so monitor https://www.totolink.net/ for a firmware update superseding 7.1cu.643_b20200521 and apply it once released. As compensating controls, restrict access to the router's web/management interface so /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi is not reachable from the WAN or untrusted LAN segments (disable remote/WAN administration entirely, which stops internet-based exploitation but not a hostile local user), and place the device behind a firewall that blocks inbound HTTP/HTTPS to the management port from all but explicitly trusted admin hosts. Where feasible, retire or replace the affected device given its history of cstecgi.cgi command-injection flaws. Track the vulnerability record at https://vuldb.com/vuln/359737 and the POC at https://github.com/Litengzheng/vuldb_new2/blob/main/A8000RU/vul_313/README.md for updates.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The affected component is the CGI Handler exposed at /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi, a single dispatch endpoint used across many TOTOLINK SOHO routers that routes requests to internal handler functions such as setNtpCfg (NTP/time-zone configuration). The root cause is CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command): the 'tz' (time zone) argument is passed into a shell/system call without sanitization, so shell metacharacters injected into tz are interpreted by the underlying BusyBox/Linux shell and executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically root on these embedded devices. The single affected CPE is cpe:2.3:a:totolink:a8000ru:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521).
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Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P
Unauthenticated network-reachable CGI endpoint (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) with unsanitized tz passed to a shell yields root command execution, giving full C/I/A impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (VulDB).
CVSS VectorVendor: VulDB
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
A vulnerability was detected in Totolink A8000RU 7.1cu.643_b20200521. This vulnerability affects the function setNtpCfg of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi of the component CGI Handler. The manipulation of the argument tz results in os command injection. The attack can be executed remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used.
Executive ViewAI
A critical OS command injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-7138, CVSS 8.9) in TOTOLINK A8000RU routers permits unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands via the NTP configuration endpoint, creating immediate risk of unauthorized device control and internal network penetration. Organizations deploying affected firmware versions (7.1cu.643_b20200521 and earlier) face potential loss of router integrity, traffic interception, and lateral movement into core networks. Although no vendor patch is available and current exploitation likelihood remains modest (EPSS 0.89%), the public availability of exploit code and the device's critical network position require urgent containment.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) Deploy firewall rules strictly blocking external access to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi on affected routers; (2) Isolate affected devices to a dedicated, access-controlled management network; (3) Implement IDS/IPS signatures detecting command injection attempts on the setNtpCfg parameter; (4) Disable NTP remote configuration capability if operationally unnecessary; (5) Enable comprehensive audit logging of all administrator actions and network access; (6) Conduct regular scanning of network perimeter devices for similar exposures.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.
OS command injection in Totolink A8000RU router firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows remote unauthenticated attacke
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows remote unauthenticated attacke
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows remote unauthenticated attacke
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows unauthenticated remote attacke
Remote OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows unauthenticated attacke
OS command injection in Totolink A8000RU router firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to
Remote OS command injection in TOTOLINK A8000RU router firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 allows unauthenticated attackers to
OS command injection in TOTOLINK A8000RU router firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows remote unauthenticated attacke
OS command injection in Totolink A8000RU router firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to
OS command injection in the Totolink A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows unauthenticated remote attacke
EUVD-2026-25876
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
GitHub
VulDB
Exploit-DB