CVE-2025-6982

Sensitive configuration disclosure via static DES key

Published Jul 16, 2025 · Updated Apr 22, 2026

Information disclosure in TP-Link Archer C20 V5 and Archer C50 V3/V4/V5 firmware allows remote authenticated users to read router configuration data. The exported config.xml is encrypted with DES in ECB mode using a static firmware key that is neither randomized nor derived per device, enabling offline recovery of administrative credentials, Wi-Fi passwords, and network settings. Exploitation requires authenticated access from an adjacent network to export the file, but the weak protection applies to default firmware configurations and decryption does not require a running router.

CVSS severity6.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in TP-Link Archer C20 V5 and Archer C50 V3/V4/V5 firmware allows remote authenticated users to read router configuration data. The exported config.xml is encrypted with DES in ECB mode using a static firmware key that is neither randomized nor derived per device, enabling offline recovery of administrative credentials, Wi-Fi passwords, and network settings. Exploitation requires authenticated access from an adjacent network to export the file, but the weak protection applies to default firmware configurations and decryption does not require a running router.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-6982
Published
Jul 16, 2025
Updated
Apr 22, 2026
Vendor
TP-Link
Product
Archer C20
Classifications
CWE-798, T1552.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 16, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 22, 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 <EU_V5_260317
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <US_V5_260419

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

TP-Link · Archer C20version=0 <EU_V5_260317; version=0 <US_V5_260419
TP-Link · Archer C50version=0 <=180703; version=0 <=200407; version=0 <=250117

Published CVSS scores

6.9TP-LinkCVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1552.001Credentials In Files

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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