CVE-2024-30599 Overview
CVE-2024-30599 is a stack overflow vulnerability in the Tenda FH1203 router running firmware version 2.0.1.6. The flaw resides in the addWifiMacFilter function, where the deviceMac parameter is copied to a fixed-size stack buffer without adequate bounds checking. An authenticated attacker on the network can send a crafted request to trigger memory corruption, crash the device, or potentially execute arbitrary code in the context of the web management process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation can result in remote code execution on affected routers, leading to full compromise of the network perimeter device.
Affected Products
- Tenda FH1203 router (hardware)
- Tenda FH1203 firmware version 2.0.1.6
- Deployments exposing the web management interface to untrusted networks
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-03-28 - CVE-2024-30599 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-30599
Vulnerability Analysis
The Tenda FH1203 exposes a web-based administrative interface that handles MAC address filtering for the Wi-Fi network. The addWifiMacFilter handler accepts a deviceMac parameter from HTTP requests submitted to the router. The handler copies the attacker-controlled string into a fixed-length stack buffer without validating its length, resulting in a classic stack-based buffer overflow.
Because the router firmware typically ships without modern exploitation mitigations such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization (ASLR), and non-executable stacks, the overflow provides a reliable path to hijacking control flow. Attackers can overwrite the saved return address on the stack and redirect execution to attacker-supplied shellcode or ROP gadgets present in the firmware image.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of bounds checking on the deviceMac parameter before it is written into a stack-allocated buffer inside addWifiMacFilter. The handler trusts client input length rather than enforcing the expected MAC address format of 17 characters (for example AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF). Any request supplying an oversized deviceMac string corrupts adjacent stack memory.
Attack Vector
The attack is delivered over the network to the router's HTTP management interface. The attacker must have low-privilege authenticated access to the web console. Once authenticated, a single crafted POST request to the MAC filter endpoint containing an oversized deviceMac value triggers the overflow. Refer to the GitHub IoT Vulnerability Documentation for reproduction details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-30599
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected reboots or crashes of the FH1203 router, particularly following HTTP requests to the MAC filter configuration endpoint.
- HTTP POST requests to the router administration interface containing abnormally long deviceMac values that exceed the 17-character MAC address format.
- New or modified Wi-Fi MAC filter entries that do not correspond to legitimate administrative activity.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect HTTP traffic destined for the router management interface for deviceMac parameter lengths beyond expected boundaries.
- Correlate router availability alerts with recent configuration requests to identify potential exploitation attempts.
- Enable syslog forwarding from the router (where supported) and monitor for repeated authentication events followed by service crashes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward network flow and management-plane logs to a centralized analytics platform for anomaly detection on administrative endpoints.
- Alert on any external source attempting to reach the router web console, which should be restricted to management networks.
- Track configuration drift on Wi-Fi MAC filter lists to detect unauthorized modifications.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-30599
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the router web management interface to trusted management VLANs or hosts only, and disable WAN-side administration.
- Rotate the administrative password for the FH1203 and enforce strong, unique credentials to reduce the risk of low-privilege access being obtained.
- Audit MAC filter configuration and recent administrative sessions for signs of tampering.
Patch Information
No vendor advisory or patched firmware version is referenced in the NVD entry for CVE-2024-30599 at the time of publication. Organizations operating the Tenda FH1203 on firmware 2.0.1.6 should monitor the Tenda support portal for updates and plan for device replacement if a fix does not become available. Additional technical context is available in the GitHub IoT Vulnerability Documentation.
Workarounds
- Place the FH1203 behind a network segmentation boundary so that only authorized administrator workstations can reach TCP ports used by the web console.
- Disable remote management features and any UPnP or cloud-management services that expose the administrative interface beyond the local network.
- Where possible, replace end-of-support consumer-grade routers with enterprise devices that receive active security maintenance.
# Example: restrict router admin interface to a management subnet using an upstream firewall
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 192.0.2.1 --dport 80 -s 10.10.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 192.0.2.1 --dport 443 -s 10.10.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 192.0.2.1 --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 192.0.2.1 --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
