CVE-2025-15608: AX53 v1 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15608 Overview

This vulnerability in the TP-Link Archer AX53 v1 router results from insufficient input sanitization in the device's probe handling logic. Unvalidated parameters can trigger a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121) that causes the affected service to crash. Under specific conditions, this vulnerability may enable remote code execution through complex heap-spray techniques.

Successful exploitation may result in repeated service unavailability and, in certain scenarios, allow an attacker to gain control of the device.

Critical Impact

Adjacent network attackers can exploit this buffer overflow to crash the device or potentially achieve remote code execution, compromising the entire network perimeter.

Affected Products

• TP-Link Archer AX53 v1 (vulnerable firmware versions)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-03-20 - CVE CVE-2025-15608 published to NVD
• 2026-03-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15608

Vulnerability Analysis

This stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) exists within the probe handling logic of the TP-Link Archer AX53 v1 router firmware. The vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before processing them in memory operations. When specially crafted input is passed to the vulnerable function, it exceeds the allocated buffer boundary on the stack, corrupting adjacent memory regions.

The adjacent network attack vector indicates that exploitation requires the attacker to be on the same local network segment as the vulnerable device. While the attack complexity is considered high due to the precision required for successful exploitation, no authentication or user interaction is necessary to trigger the vulnerability.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization in the device's probe handling logic. The firmware fails to implement proper boundary checks when processing user-supplied parameters, allowing data to overflow beyond the intended buffer allocation on the stack. This is a classic instance of CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow), where the program writes data past the end of a stack-allocated buffer.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-15608 requires adjacent network access, meaning an attacker must be positioned on the same network segment as the target device. The exploitation process involves sending specially crafted probe requests containing malicious parameters that exceed expected buffer sizes.

The primary attack outcomes include:

1. Denial of Service: Overflowing the stack buffer causes memory corruption that crashes the affected service, leading to device unavailability
2. Remote Code Execution: In certain scenarios, attackers can leverage complex heap-spray techniques to achieve code execution, potentially gaining full control of the device

The vulnerability is particularly concerning for home and small office networks where the Archer AX53 router serves as the primary network gateway and security perimeter.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15608

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected router reboots or service crashes without apparent cause
• Unusual network traffic patterns targeting the router's management interfaces
• Anomalous probe requests with oversized or malformed parameters
• Memory error logs in router diagnostic output (if accessible)

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for repeated service crashes or unexpected reboots of Archer AX53 devices on the network
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify malformed probe requests targeting TP-Link devices
• Deploy network segmentation to limit exposure of vulnerable devices to untrusted network segments
• Review router logs for unusual activity patterns or access attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable and regularly review router system logs for crash events or service restarts
• Monitor network traffic at the segment level for anomalous probe activity
• Implement alerting for device availability to detect potential DoS exploitation attempts
• Conduct periodic firmware version audits to ensure devices are running patched versions

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15608

Immediate Actions Required

• Check the current firmware version on all TP-Link Archer AX53 v1 devices in your environment
• Apply the latest firmware update from TP-Link immediately if available
• Restrict access to the device's management interfaces from untrusted network segments
• Implement network segmentation to limit adjacent network access to the router

Patch Information

TP-Link has provided firmware resources for the Archer AX53 v1 device. Administrators should obtain the latest firmware from the TP-Link Archer AX53 Firmware Download Page and apply updates following TP-Link's guidance. Additional security information may be found in the TP-Link Support FAQ #5025.

Ensure firmware updates are verified for integrity before applying them to production devices.

Workarounds

• Disable unnecessary network services and probe functionality if configurable
• Implement strict network access controls to limit which devices can communicate with the router
• Use a separate management VLAN for router administration to reduce attack surface
• Consider deploying network-level protection such as an upstream firewall with deep packet inspection

# Example: Network segmentation recommendation
# Create a dedicated management VLAN for router administration
# Restrict probe/discovery traffic at upstream switch or firewall
# Monitor for unusual traffic patterns to device management interfaces