CVE-2021-40597Network attack vector

Unauthenticated administrative access via hard-coded credentials

Published Jun 29, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Use of hard-coded credentials in EDIMAX IC-3140W firmware 3.11 allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access. The firmware embeds a fixed Administrator username and password rather than requiring device-specific credentials. Reachability to an authentication service that accepts the embedded pair is the documented gate, and successful use grants the firmware's Administrator account.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of hard-coded credentials in EDIMAX IC-3140W firmware 3.11 allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access. The firmware embeds a fixed Administrator username and password rather than requiring device-specific credentials. Reachability to an authentication service that accepts the embedded pair is the documented gate, and successful use grants the firmware's Administrator account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40597
Published
Jun 29, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-798, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 29, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

10.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078Valid Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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