CVE-2025-1897 Overview
CVE-2025-1897 is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Tenda TX3 router running firmware version 16.03.13.11_multi. The flaw resides in the /goform/SetNetControlList endpoint, where improper handling of the list argument allows attackers to overflow a fixed-size buffer. Exploitation can be initiated remotely over the network and requires low privileges. Public disclosure of exploit details has occurred, increasing the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against exposed devices. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-119], improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can trigger a buffer overflow against the Tenda TX3 web management interface, leading to denial of service and potential memory corruption on the affected router.
Affected Products
- Tenda TX3 router (hardware)
- Tenda TX3 firmware version 16.03.13.11_multi
- Web management interface endpoint /goform/SetNetControlList
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-04 - CVE-2025-1897 published to NVD
- 2025-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-1897
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the HTTP handler bound to /goform/SetNetControlList in the Tenda TX3 web administration service. The handler accepts a list parameter from authenticated requests and copies its contents into a fixed-size stack buffer without validating the input length. When the supplied value exceeds the destination buffer, adjacent memory and saved control structures are overwritten. The result is process corruption that crashes the management daemon and may permit further exploitation on the underlying MIPS architecture used by Tenda consumer routers.
Root Cause
The root cause is a missing length check on attacker-controlled input prior to a memory copy operation, consistent with [CWE-119]. The goform handler trusts the size of the list argument supplied through the HTTP POST body. No bounds enforcement is applied between the network parser and the destination buffer, so any value longer than the buffer corrupts adjacent stack data including saved return addresses.
Attack Vector
An attacker reaches the vulnerability over the network by sending a crafted HTTP request to the router's web management interface. The attack requires low-level credentials on the device, which are often left at vendor defaults in consumer deployments. The integrity and confidentiality of data are not directly impacted, but availability of the router is. A successful overflow terminates the web service and can interrupt routing functions on the device.
A proof-of-concept document describing the request layout and overflow trigger has been published. See the GitHub PoC Document and the VulDB entry #298415 for technical details on the request construction.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1897
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected restarts or crashes of the Tenda TX3 httpd or goahead web management process.
- HTTP POST requests targeting /goform/SetNetControlList containing oversized list parameter values.
- Loss of management plane connectivity to the router while data plane remains briefly active.
- Repeated authentication attempts from external IP addresses followed by abnormally large request bodies.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect network logs and IDS sensors for HTTP requests to /goform/SetNetControlList with Content-Length values significantly larger than expected for control list updates.
- Correlate router web service crashes with preceding inbound HTTP traffic from untrusted networks.
- Apply signatures that match long, non-printable byte sequences in the list parameter of POST bodies destined for Tenda management endpoints.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward router syslog output to a centralized log platform and alert on web service restart events.
- Monitor for exposure of router management interfaces on WAN-facing IP addresses using external attack surface scans.
- Track outbound traffic anomalies from the router itself, which may indicate post-exploitation activity following memory corruption.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1897
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable remote (WAN-side) administration of the Tenda TX3 web interface until a vendor patch is installed.
- Restrict access to /goform/SetNetControlList to trusted management hosts on the local network using ACLs where supported.
- Rotate router administrator credentials and remove default accounts to reduce the low-privilege precondition required for exploitation.
- Audit the network for Tenda TX3 devices running firmware 16.03.13.11_multi and inventory their exposure.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed firmware release has been listed in the NVD record or the VulDB CTI entry #298415. Administrators should monitor the Tenda Official Website for an updated firmware build that addresses the /goform/SetNetControlList handler.
Workarounds
- Place the router behind a network segment that blocks untrusted hosts from reaching TCP ports 80 and 443 of the device.
- Replace affected Tenda TX3 units with patched hardware or alternative devices in environments where remote administration is operationally required.
- Enforce strong, unique credentials on the device to raise the cost of obtaining the low-privilege foothold needed to reach the vulnerable endpoint.
# Example: block external access to the Tenda TX3 management interface
# Replace <ROUTER_IP> with the LAN address of the device and <MGMT_SUBNET> with your admin subnet
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <ROUTER_IP> --dport 80 -s <MGMT_SUBNET> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <ROUTER_IP> --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <ROUTER_IP> --dport 443 -s <MGMT_SUBNET> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <ROUTER_IP> --dport 443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
