CVE-2024-32301: Tenda AC7 Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-32301 Overview

CVE-2024-32301 is a critical stack overflow vulnerability affecting Tenda AC7V1.0 router firmware version 15.03.06.44. The vulnerability exists in the fromWizardHandle function, where improper handling of the PPW parameter allows attackers to trigger a stack-based buffer overflow. This firmware vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially allowing complete compromise of affected network devices.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation of this stack overflow vulnerability could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code, gain unauthorized access to the router, or cause denial of service conditions on affected Tenda AC7 devices.

Affected Products

• Tenda AC7 Firmware version 15.03.06.44
• Tenda AC7 Hardware version 1.0
• Tenda AC7V1.0 routers running vulnerable firmware

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-04-17 - CVE-2024-32301 published to NVD
• 2025-03-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-32301

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as a stack overflow (CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read) affecting the Tenda AC7 router's firmware. The vulnerable code path exists within the fromWizardHandle function, which processes user-supplied input through the PPW parameter without adequate bounds checking. When an attacker supplies an oversized or malformed value for the PPW parameter, the function fails to properly validate the input length before copying it to a fixed-size stack buffer, resulting in memory corruption.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means it can be exploited remotely by any attacker who can reach the router's management interface. No authentication is required to trigger the vulnerable code path, significantly increasing the risk exposure for affected devices deployed in production environments.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-32301 lies in inadequate input validation within the fromWizardHandle function. The firmware does not properly verify the length of user-supplied data in the PPW parameter before processing it, allowing attackers to write beyond the boundaries of allocated stack memory. This is a common vulnerability pattern in embedded systems and IoT devices where memory-safe programming practices may not be consistently applied.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any prior authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests targeting the wizard handle functionality, supplying an oversized PPW parameter value designed to overflow the stack buffer. Upon successful exploitation, the attacker may achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the firmware process, potentially gaining full control over the affected router.

The vulnerability is exploited by sending specially crafted requests to the router's web management interface. The fromWizardHandle function processes these requests and copies the PPW parameter data to a stack buffer without proper size validation. When the supplied data exceeds the buffer capacity, adjacent stack memory is overwritten, which can corrupt return addresses and other critical data structures. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the GitHub IoT Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-32301

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to the router's web interface containing oversized PPW parameter values
• Unexpected router reboots or instability indicating potential exploitation attempts
• Anomalous network traffic patterns originating from or directed at the router's management interface
• Router configuration changes that were not initiated by legitimate administrators

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP traffic to Tenda AC7 routers for requests containing abnormally large PPW parameters in wizard-related endpoints
• Implement intrusion detection rules to identify stack overflow exploitation patterns targeting embedded device web interfaces
• Deploy network monitoring to detect unusual command-and-control traffic that may indicate a compromised router
• Review router logs for failed or malformed requests that could indicate reconnaissance or exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable logging on network perimeter devices to capture traffic to and from Tenda router management interfaces
• Implement network segmentation to isolate IoT devices and routers from critical network segments
• Deploy network-based anomaly detection to identify exploitation attempts targeting router vulnerabilities
• Regularly audit device firmware versions and maintain an inventory of vulnerable Tenda AC7 devices

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-32301

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all Tenda AC7 devices running firmware version 15.03.06.44 in your environment
• Restrict access to the router's web management interface to trusted networks and IP addresses only
• Disable remote management features if not explicitly required for operations
• Implement network segmentation to minimize the blast radius of potential exploitation

Patch Information

As of the last update on 2025-03-17, no official vendor patch has been publicly documented for this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor Tenda's official support channels for firmware updates addressing CVE-2024-32301. In the absence of an official fix, implementing compensating controls and considering device replacement with actively maintained alternatives may be necessary for high-security environments.

Workarounds

• Disable the web-based management interface and use alternative management methods where possible
• Configure firewall rules to block external access to the router's administrative ports (typically port 80/443)
• Place affected routers behind additional security controls such as a dedicated firewall or VPN
• Consider replacing vulnerable Tenda AC7 devices with routers from vendors that provide regular security updates

# Example firewall rules to restrict router management access
# Block external access to Tenda router management interface
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s ! 192.168.1.0/24 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s ! 192.168.1.0/24 -j DROP

# Allow management only from specific admin workstation
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.100 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 192.168.1.100 -j ACCEPT