CVE-2020-37150: Edimax EW-7438RPn Information Disclosure

CVE-2020-37150 Overview

CVE-2020-37150 is a sensitive data exposure vulnerability affecting the Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini Wi-Fi range extender running firmware version 1.27. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access the /wizard_reboot.asp page when the device is in unsetup mode, which discloses the configured Wi-Fi SSID and security key. Attackers can retrieve the wireless password by simply sending a GET request to this endpoint, exposing sensitive network credentials without any form of authentication.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated remote attackers can obtain Wi-Fi credentials, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the target wireless network and all connected devices.

Affected Products

• Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini firmware version 1.27
• Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini devices in unsetup mode

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-05 - CVE CVE-2020-37150 published to NVD
• 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-37150

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-201 (Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data). The Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini range extender fails to properly restrict access to sensitive configuration pages during the device's initial setup phase. When the device operates in unsetup mode, the web interface exposes the /wizard_reboot.asp endpoint without requiring any authentication credentials.

The fundamental security issue lies in the device's web server failing to implement proper access controls on pages that contain sensitive network configuration data. When an attacker accesses this endpoint, the device responds with the configured Wi-Fi SSID and the corresponding security key in plaintext, allowing trivial extraction of credentials that should be protected.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper access control implementation in the device's web management interface. The firmware fails to enforce authentication checks on the /wizard_reboot.asp page when the device is in unsetup mode. This design flaw allows any network-adjacent attacker to retrieve Wi-Fi credentials without providing valid authentication, violating the principle of least privilege and secure defaults.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no user interaction or authentication. An attacker with network access to the vulnerable device can exploit this vulnerability by sending an HTTP GET request to the /wizard_reboot.asp endpoint. The device's web server processes the request and returns a response containing the Wi-Fi SSID and password in cleartext.

The exploitation process involves:

1. Identifying an Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini device on the network
2. Determining if the device is in unsetup mode
3. Sending a simple GET request to the vulnerable endpoint
4. Parsing the response to extract the disclosed credentials

For detailed technical information and proof-of-concept details, refer to the Exploit-DB #48318 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37150

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP GET requests targeting /wizard_reboot.asp on Edimax devices
• Unexpected network reconnaissance activity targeting IoT devices on port 80
• Unauthorized devices connecting to the Wi-Fi network using legitimate credentials
• Web server logs showing unauthenticated access attempts to configuration endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for HTTP requests to /wizard_reboot.asp on Edimax range extender devices
• Implement network segmentation alerts for IoT devices receiving unusual HTTP traffic patterns
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify reconnaissance activities targeting embedded device web interfaces
• Audit connected devices on Wi-Fi networks for unauthorized clients

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable logging on network firewalls and routers to capture traffic to and from IoT devices
• Implement network behavior analysis to detect anomalous access patterns to embedded devices
• Regularly audit Wi-Fi client lists for unauthorized devices that may have obtained credentials
• Monitor for lateral movement attempts following potential credential compromise

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37150

Immediate Actions Required

• Complete the device setup process immediately to exit unsetup mode and reduce exposure
• Isolate affected Edimax EW-7438RPn-v3 Mini devices on a separate network segment
• Change Wi-Fi credentials if the device has been exposed in unsetup mode
• Implement network-level access controls to restrict access to the device's management interface
• Consider replacing vulnerable devices if no firmware update is available

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor patch has been identified in the CVE data. Administrators should monitor the Edimax Product Page for firmware updates that address this vulnerability. Contact Edimax support for information about security patches or firmware upgrades.

Workarounds

• Ensure devices are never left in unsetup mode on production networks
• Implement network segmentation to isolate IoT devices from critical infrastructure
• Use firewall rules to restrict access to the device's web management interface to trusted IP addresses only
• Monitor network traffic for suspicious access attempts to the vulnerable endpoint
• Consider deploying a VPN or additional authentication layer for management access

# Example firewall rule to restrict access to Edimax device management interface
# Replace 192.168.1.100 with your Edimax device IP and 192.168.1.50 with trusted admin IP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.50 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP