CVE-2026-42372Public exploit

Root shell access via hardcoded telnet credentials

Published May 4, 2026 · Updated May 4, 2026

Use of hardcoded credentials in D-Link DIR-605L Firmware A1 allows remote attackers on the local network to obtain a root shell via Telnet. At boot, /bin/telnetd.sh reads a static password from /etc/alpha_config/image_sign and launches telnetd on br0 with the fixed Alphanetworks username. Any LAN or Wi-Fi peer can authenticate without prior access and execute arbitrary commands as root, enabling full control of router configuration and traffic.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of hardcoded credentials in D-Link DIR-605L Firmware A1 allows remote attackers on the local network to obtain a root shell via Telnet. At boot, /bin/telnetd.sh reads a static password from /etc/alpha_config/image_sign and launches telnetd on br0 with the fixed Alphanetworks username. Any LAN or Wi-Fi peer can authenticate without prior access and execute arbitrary commands as root, enabling full control of router configuration and traffic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-42372
Published
May 4, 2026
Updated
May 4, 2026
Vendor
D-Link
Product
DIR-605L Firmware
Classifications
CWE-798, T1078.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 4, 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=A1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

D-Link · DIR-605L Firmwareversion=A1

Published CVSS scores

8.8SecurinCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/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

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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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078.001Valid Accounts: Default Accounts

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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