CVE-2022-38823Public exploit

Root password disclosure via bundled shadow sample

Published Sep 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Use of hard-coded credentials in TOTOLINK T6 firmware 4.1.5cu.709_B20210518 allows attackers to recover the root password via offline firmware analysis. The firmware bundles a reusable root password hash in /etc/shadow.sample, and the published analysis recovers its plaintext value. Exploitation requires access to the firmware image; the disclosure identifies no network service that accepts the credential.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.08%
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 TOTOLINK T6 firmware 4.1.5cu.709_B20210518 allows attackers to recover the root password via offline firmware analysis. The firmware bundles a reusable root password hash in /etc/shadow.sample, and the published analysis recovers its plaintext value. Exploitation requires access to the firmware image; the disclosure identifies no network service that accepts the credential.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38823
Published
Sep 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-798, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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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