CVE-2024-32291 Overview
CVE-2024-32291 is a stack overflow vulnerability in the Tenda W30E router firmware version v1.0.1.25(633). The flaw resides in the fromNatlimit function and is triggered through the page parameter. An unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted HTTP request over the network to corrupt the stack, causing the device to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow].
Critical Impact
Remote unauthenticated attackers can cause a denial-of-service condition on affected Tenda W30E devices by sending a malformed page parameter to the fromNatlimit function.
Affected Products
- Tenda W30E router (hardware)
- Tenda W30E firmware version 1.0.1.25(633)
- Deployments exposing the web management interface to untrusted networks
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-04-17 - CVE-2024-32291 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-32291
Vulnerability Analysis
The Tenda W30E web management interface exposes a handler named fromNatlimit that processes NAT limit configuration requests. The handler reads the page HTTP parameter and copies it into a fixed-size stack buffer without validating its length. Supplying an oversized value overwrites adjacent stack memory, including the saved return address.
The primary observed impact is denial of service. The device crashes and requires a reboot or manual intervention to restore service. On embedded MIPS-based routers such as the W30E, stack overflows of this type can also be leveraged for control-flow hijacking when the firmware lacks stack canaries and address space layout randomization (ASLR).
Exploitation requires only network reachability to the router's HTTP management interface. No authentication or user interaction is required, which broadens the attack surface when the interface is exposed to the LAN or WAN.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing bounds checking on the page parameter before it is copied into a stack-allocated buffer inside fromNatlimit. The function trusts client-supplied input length, a common pattern in Tenda firmware.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends an HTTP request to the router's web interface with an overly long page parameter targeting the fromNatlimit endpoint. The oversized value overflows the local buffer, corrupts saved registers and the return address, and causes the HTTP daemon (httpd) to crash. See the GitHub IoT Vulnerability Documentation for the request layout and reproduction steps.
No verified proof-of-concept code is available in the enriched data. Refer to the linked research repository for technical reproduction details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-32291
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected reboots or httpd restarts on Tenda W30E devices
- HTTP POST or GET requests to endpoints handled by fromNatlimit containing abnormally long page parameter values
- Loss of web management interface availability following inbound HTTP traffic from untrusted sources
Detection Strategies
- Inspect HTTP traffic destined for the router management interface and flag requests where the page parameter exceeds expected length (typical values are short numeric strings)
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that match oversized query strings against Tenda administrative URIs
- Correlate router availability drops with preceding inbound HTTP requests to identify probable exploitation attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Log all inbound connections to the router's HTTP management port from external interfaces
- Alert on repeated crashes of embedded network devices, which are frequently the first observable sign of overflow exploitation
- Baseline expected management traffic sources and flag requests originating outside the administrative network
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-32291
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the Tenda W30E web management interface to trusted administrative hosts only
- Disable remote (WAN-side) management on affected devices
- Segment IoT and networking equipment onto isolated VLANs with strict egress and ingress filtering
- Monitor Tenda advisories for a firmware release addressing v1.0.1.25(633)
Patch Information
No vendor advisory or patched firmware release is referenced in the available CVE data. Organizations operating the Tenda W30E should track vendor communications for an updated firmware image and apply it as soon as it is published.
Workarounds
- Block external access to the router's HTTP management port using upstream firewall rules
- Replace end-of-support or unpatched Tenda W30E devices with actively maintained hardware where feasible
- Apply access control lists (ACLs) that restrict the management interface to a dedicated administrative subnet
# Example: restrict router HTTP management to a single admin host
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.0.2.10 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
