CVE-2023-33538Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via unsanitized SSID

Published Jun 7, 2023 · Updated Dec 20, 2025

Command injection in TP-Link TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands. wirelessConfigUpdate inserts the unsanitized ssid1 query value into an iwconfig shell command that execFormatCmd runs through /bin/sh. A valid web-management session token is required; successful injection can reboot the router or alter files used during startup.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability41.87%
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 TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2 allows remote authenticated users to execute commands. wirelessConfigUpdate inserts the unsanitized ssid1 query value into an iwconfig shell command that execFormatCmd runs through /bin/sh. A valid web-management session token is required; successful injection can reboot the router or alter files used during startup.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-33538
Published
Jun 7, 2023
Updated
Dec 20, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 16, 2025Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog listing
  3. Dec 20, 2025Record 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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