CVE-2021-42892Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root shell access via unauthenticated Telnet activation

Published Jun 3, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Hard-coded credentials in TOTOLINK EX1200T 4.1.2cu.5215 allow remote attackers to gain root Telnet access after enabling the service. The unauthenticated setTelnetCfg action in /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi accepts telnet_enabled=1, while product.ini stores fixed root credentials. The management CGI must be network-reachable; the published request activates Telnet, after which the firmware-stored credentials grant a root shell.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.73%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in TOTOLINK EX1200T 4.1.2cu.5215 allow remote attackers to gain root Telnet access after enabling the service. The unauthenticated setTelnetCfg action in /cgi-bin/cstecgi.cgi accepts telnet_enabled=1, while product.ini stores fixed root credentials. The management CGI must be network-reachable; the published request activates Telnet, after which the firmware-stored credentials grant a root shell.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42892
Published
Jun 3, 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 3, 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

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
4.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078Valid Accounts

Public exploit references

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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