CVE-2023-49515Public exploit

Root shell access via exposed UART boot menu

Published Jan 17, 2024 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Insecure UART access in TP-Link Tapo TC70 and C200 V3 firmware 1.3.4 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain a root shell. The bootloader accepts an interrupt over exposed UART pins and permits boot arguments to be changed so the camera starts /bin/sh as root. Exploitation requires opening the camera, soldering to its circuit-board UART pins, and rebooting it; the resulting shell can read and dump the complete filesystem.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insecure UART access in TP-Link Tapo TC70 and C200 V3 firmware 1.3.4 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain a root shell. The bootloader accepts an interrupt over exposed UART pins and permits boot arguments to be changed so the camera starts /bin/sh as root. Exploitation requires opening the camera, soldering to its circuit-board UART pins, and rebooting it; the resulting shell can read and dump the complete filesystem.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49515
Published
Jan 17, 2024
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
TP-Link
Product
Tapo TC70 Firmware
Classifications
CWE-922, T1068
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 17, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.3.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

TP-Link · Tapo TC70 Firmwareversion=1.3.4
TP-Link · Tapo C200 V3 Firmwareversion=1.3.4

Published CVSS scores

4.6CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.6NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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.

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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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-922Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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