Authenticated code execution via unchecked stack copy
Published Jan 29, 2026 · Updated Jan 29, 2026
Stack-based buffer overflow in Tenda AC21 Firmware 16.03.08.16 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a POST request. The sub_44C7A8 helper called by fromAdvSetMacMtuWan passes an unbounded serverName value from websGetVar to strcpy, overwriting a fixed stack buffer. Low-privileged access to the web management interface is required; exploitation can crash httpd or overwrite its return address to take control.
Summary
What happened
Stack-based buffer overflow in Tenda AC21 Firmware 16.03.08.16 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a POST request. The sub_44C7A8 helper called by fromAdvSetMacMtuWan passes an unbounded serverName value from websGetVar to strcpy, overwriting a fixed stack buffer. Low-privileged access to the web management interface is required; exploitation can crash httpd or overwrite its return address to take control.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-1637
- Published
- Jan 29, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 29, 2026
- Vendor
- Shenzhen Tenda Technology Co., Ltd.
- Product
- AC21 Firmware
- Classifications
- CWE-121, CWE-119, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 29, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 29, 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.
- Affected versionversion=16.03.08.16
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Tenda AC21 AdvSetMacMtuWan oversized serverName proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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