CVE-2023-33538
Published: June 16, 2025
Official Description
TP-Link TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2 contain a command injection vulnerability via the component /userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.
CISA KEV Advisory
TP-Link Multiple Routers Command Injection Vulnerability
TP-Link TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2 contain a command injection vulnerability via the component /userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Risk Analysis
This command injection vulnerability affects several TP-Link router models (TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2) via the WlanNetworkRpm component. The high EPSS score of 0.91320 indicates a very high likelihood of exploitation, making this a critical vulnerability. Its presence in CISA's KEV catalog confirms it has been actively exploited.
This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild. It is remotely exploitable, allowing attackers to inject commands.
These products are likely end-of-life or end-of-service, so users should discontinue their use immediately. Replace affected devices with supported hardware that receives regular security updates.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2023-33538 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
CISA has added CVE-2023-33538 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.
Exploit & PoC Resources
News & Research Mentioning CVE-2023-33538
CVE-2023-33538 allows for command injection in TP-Link routers. We discuss exploitation attempts with payloads characteristic of Mirai botnet malware. The post A Deep Dive Into Attempted Exploitation of CVE-2023-33538 appeared first on Unit 42. [xlite_meta score:50 src:Palo Alto Unit 42 xlite_fp:83150490960d687cbe235da61461df99a450bec323253e2e343ea89fedd62d9e]
All References (2)
Quick Facts
Known Threat Actors
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2023-33538 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
- !CISA KEV: Federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01 timeline
- !Active exploitation confirmed — treat as P1