CVE-2021-4045Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated root code execution via setLanguage injection

Published Mar 7, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Command injection in TP-Link Tapo C200 firmware 1.1.15 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without authentication. The uhttpd setLanguage handler embeds attacker-controlled JSON directly in a ubus shell command executed through popen without neutralizing single quotes. A single HTTPS POST to the root path reaches the handler before login, and uhttpd runs as root, granting full control of the camera.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability72.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in TP-Link Tapo C200 firmware 1.1.15 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without authentication. The uhttpd setLanguage handler embeds attacker-controlled JSON directly in a ubus shell command executed through popen without neutralizing single quotes. A single HTTPS POST to the root path reaches the handler before login, and uhttpd runs as root, granting full control of the camera.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-4045
Published
Mar 7, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
TP-Link
Product
Tapo C200
Classifications
CWE-77, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 7, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 11, 2022Exploitation reportedFortiGuard IPS spike for Tapo C200 command injection
  3. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.15 <=1.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

TP-Link · Tapo C200version=1.15 <=1.15

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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