CVE-2025-28037: Pre-auth remote command execution vulnerability in TOTOLINK products

Overview

In the realm of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities are a common occurrence. However, some vulnerabilities pose a higher risk than others, and unfortunately, those are the ones that attract the attention of malicious actors. In this scenario, CVE-2025-28037 is the vulnerability we’ll be focusing on. It is a pre-auth remote command execution vulnerability discovered in two TOTOLINK products, namely A810R V4.1.2cu.5182_B20201026 and A950RG V4.1.2cu.5161_B20200903. This vulnerability is of significance due to its potential impact, which includes system compromise or data leakage, and its high CVSS Severity Score of 9.8.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-28037
Severity: Critical (CVSS: 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

TOTOLINK A810R | V4.1.2cu.5182_B20201026
TOTOLINK A950RG | V4.1.2cu.5161_B20200903

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies in the setDiagnosisCfg function, which improperly processes the ipDomain parameter. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without authentication. It can be exploited by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable device, which then executes the malicious commands.

Conceptual Example Code

The following is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

POST /setDiagnosisCfg HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-device-ip
Content-Type: application/json
{ "ipDomain": "; rm -rf /;" }

In the above hypothetical example, the malicious command `; rm -rf /;` is injected through the ipDomain parameter. If successful, this command would delete all files in the system of the vulnerable device, causing severe damage.

Mitigation Guidance

Users of the affected TOTOLINK products are urged to apply the patches provided by the vendor as soon as possible. In case the patch cannot be applied immediately, it is recommended to use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. It would also be wise to limit the devices’ exposure to the internet and restrict access to the management interfaces of these devices to trusted networks only. Regular monitoring and log reviews can also help in detecting any unusual activities.
Remember, in the world of cybersecurity, staying updated and vigilant is the key to protection.