CVE-2025-62501

Credential interception via regenerated SSH host keys

Published Feb 3, 2026 · Updated Feb 3, 2026

SSH host-key misconfiguration in TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 through 1.3.1 Build 20241120 allows attackers to intercept device credentials. A nonpersistent /etc directory causes the Dropbear startup script to generate a different RSA host key after every router reboot, defeating stable host-key verification until a client records the new fingerprint. Attackers positioned in the network path after a reboot can impersonate the router during a HomeShield management connection and reuse captured credentials for unauthorized configuration access.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SSH host-key misconfiguration in TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 through 1.3.1 Build 20241120 allows attackers to intercept device credentials. A nonpersistent /etc directory causes the Dropbear startup script to generate a different RSA host key after every router reboot, defeating stable host-key verification until a client records the new fingerprint. Attackers positioned in the network path after a reboot can impersonate the router during a HomeShield management connection and reuse captured credentials for unauthorized configuration access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-62501
Published
Feb 3, 2026
Updated
Feb 3, 2026
Vendor
TP-Link Systems Inc.
Product
Archer AX53
Classifications
CWE-300, CWE-322, CAPEC-94, T1557
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 3, 2026Record 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=0 <=1.3.1 Build 20241120

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

TP-Link Systems Inc. · Archer AX53version=0 <=1.3.1 Build 20241120

Published CVSS scores

7.0TPLinkCVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-300Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint
CWE-322Key Exchange without Entity Authentication
CAPEC-94Adversary in the Middle (AiTM)
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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