Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessReach router web interface
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DeliverySend crafted POST to cstecgi.cgi setTelnetCfg
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ExploitInject shell metacharacters via telnet_enabled
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ExecutionExecute OS command as root
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PersistEnable Telnet / establish persistence
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ImpactFull device takeover
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 | The attacker must be able to reach the router's HTTP management interface hosting /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi and send a request invoking the setTelnetCfg function with a malicious telnet_enabled value containing shell metacharacters. The CVSS 4.0 vector states PR:N/UI:N/AC:L/AT:N, implying no authentication or user interaction is required against the affected firmware; however, TOTOLINK cstecgi.cgi handlers often enforce a login session, so unauthenticated reachability of this specific handler should be independently confirmed. The primary limiting factor is network exposure: SOHO router admin interfaces are usually bound to the LAN by default, so remote exploitation typically requires that WAN-side/remote web management be enabled or that the attacker already has LAN access. Only firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521 on the A8000RU is confirmed affected. |
| Impact | The signals are moderately consistent. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N, VC/VI/VA:H) describes a network-reachable, low-complexity, unauthenticated attack with total technical impact, which the SSVC framework corroborates (Exploitation: poc, Automatable: yes, Technical Impact: total). Publicly available exploit code exists, raising practical exploitability. However, EPSS is only 0.89% (76th percentile) and the CVE is not in CISA KEV, so there is no confirmed active exploitation - this reads as a real but not yet mass-exploited issue. A key caveat: the CVSS vector asserts PR:N (unauthenticated), but many TOTOLINK cstecgi.cgi handlers historically require or check a session/login, so whether setTelnetCfg is truly reachable pre-authentication should be verified against the device firmware. Overall this is a genuine high-priority issue for exposed devices given root-level command execution and available POC, tempered by typically limited internet exposure of a SOHO router's admin interface. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who can reach the router's web interface sends a crafted HTTP POST to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi invoking setTelnetCfg with shell metacharacters embedded in the telnet_enabled argument, causing the injected command to run as root on the device. Because publicly available exploit code exists and the attack complexity is low, this can be executed reliably and even scripted; a successful attacker gains full control of the router to pivot, intercept traffic, or enroll the device into a botnet. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 24, 2026
OS command injection in the TOTOLINK A8000RU router (firmware 7.1cu.643_b20200521) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary operating-system commands through the telnet_enabled argument of the setTelnetCfg function in /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi. The flaw carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.9 with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and publicly available exploit code exists, though it is not listed in CISA KEV. EPSS is modest at 0.89% (76th percentile), indicating publicly available exploit code exists but no confirmation of widespread active exploitation.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis - no fixed firmware version is cited in the available data, and TOTOLINK has published no linked advisory. As compensating controls: disable remote (WAN-side) access to the web management interface so /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi is not internet-reachable, which prevents remote exploitation at the cost of losing remote administration; restrict LAN access to the admin interface to trusted management hosts/VLANs only; and disable the Telnet service and block TCP port 23 to reduce the post-exploitation foothold, accepting loss of Telnet-based management. Monitor https://www.totolink.net/ for updated firmware and apply it once a fixed build is published. Given the device's age and end-of-support risk, consider replacing the router if no patched firmware becomes available. Reference the VulDB entry (https://vuldb.com/vuln/359751) and the exploit write-up (https://github.com/Litengzheng/vuldb_new2/blob/main/A8000RU/vul_316/README.md) for detection details.
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 A8000RU is a consumer/SOHO wireless router from TOTOLINK. Its web management interface routes requests through the cstecgi.cgi CGI Handler, a common single-entry-point binary used across many TOTOLINK devices that dispatches to internal handler functions by name. The vulnerable handler, setTelnetCfg, is intended to configure the device's Telnet service, but it passes the attacker-controlled telnet_enabled parameter into an OS-level command (e.g. a shell invocation to start/stop telnetd) without sanitization. This is a classic CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) issue, where shell metacharacters in the parameter break out of the intended command and execute attacker-supplied commands, typically as root on these embedded Linux devices.
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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
Network-reachable CGI handler, low complexity, no user interaction; PR:N follows the reported vector though vendor auth on cstecgi.cgi should be verified; command injection yields full C/I/A compromise.
Primary rating from Vendor (VulDB).
CVSS VectorVendor: VulDB
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
A vulnerability was identified in Totolink A8000RU 7.1cu.643_b20200521. The affected element is the function setTelnetCfg of the file /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi of the component CGI Handler. Such manipulation of the argument telnet_enabled leads to os command injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit is publicly available and might be used.
Executive ViewAI
TOTOLINK A8000RU routers (firmware version 7.1cu.643_b20200521 or earlier) contain a remote command injection vulnerability (CVSS 8.9) enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands and compromise affected devices. Exploitation code is publicly available, and no vendor patch exists; organizations operating this hardware must immediately implement containment measures or execute replacement. Without urgent action, this vulnerability creates a direct pathway for attackers to establish persistent network access and reconnaissance capabilities.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations include: network isolation of affected routers with restricted administrative access; disabling non-essential remote management protocols (telnet, SSH); implementing firewall rules blocking external connectivity to affected devices; monitoring and logging access attempts to /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi endpoint; and establishing device replacement timeline with priority for internet-exposed units.
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-2026-25914
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
GitHub
VulDB
Exploit-DB