CVE-2024-21827Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root shell access via deterministic debug password

Published Jun 25, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Leftover debug code in TP-Link ER7206 1.4.1 Build 20240117 Rel.57421 allows remote authenticated users to gain a root shell over SSH. cli_debug_command derives a password by hashing the LAN MAC address concatenated with "admin," compares only the first 16 hexadecimal characters, and invokes system_shell_wrap after a match. Remote Assistance must be enabled and administrator credentials are required to reach the hidden debug command; successful use grants full control of the router.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Leftover debug code in TP-Link ER7206 1.4.1 Build 20240117 Rel.57421 allows remote authenticated users to gain a root shell over SSH. cli_debug_command derives a password by hashing the LAN MAC address concatenated with "admin," compares only the first 16 hexadecimal characters, and invokes system_shell_wrap after a match. Remote Assistance must be enabled and administrator credentials are required to reach the hidden debug command; successful use grants full control of the router.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-21827
Published
Jun 25, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
TP-Link
Product
ER7206
Classifications
CWE-489, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 25, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.4.1
  2. Affected versionversion=1.4.1 Build 20240117 Rel.57421

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

TP-Link · ER7206version=1.4.1; version=1.4.1 Build 20240117 Rel.57421

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-489Active Debug Code
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo