CVE-2023-36498Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated root shell via unsanitized PPTP tunnel name

Published Feb 6, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Command injection in the PPTP client of TP-Link ER7206 1.3.0 build 20230322 Rel.70591 allows remote authenticated users to gain a root shell. The uhttpd PPTP client handler passes the tunnelname parameter, including shell metacharacters, as an unsanitized argument to a shell command. Administrative access to the web interface is required; exploitation executes arbitrary commands as root and grants full control of the appliance.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability3.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in the PPTP client of TP-Link ER7206 1.3.0 build 20230322 Rel.70591 allows remote authenticated users to gain a root shell. The uhttpd PPTP client handler passes the tunnelname parameter, including shell metacharacters, as an unsanitized argument to a shell command. Administrative access to the web interface is required; exploitation executes arbitrary commands as root and grants full control of the appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36498
Published
Feb 6, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
TP-Link
Product
ER7206
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 6, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.3.0 build 20230322 Rel.70591

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

TP-Link · ER7206version=1.3.0 build 20230322 Rel.70591

Published CVSS scores

7.2Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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