CVE-2025-46629: Tenda RX2 Pro Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-46629 Overview

CVE-2025-46629 affects the Tenda RX2 Pro router running firmware version 16.03.30.14. The vulnerability resides in the ate management binary, which lacks access controls and authentication checks. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a crafted User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet to perform unauthorized configuration changes on any router where the ate service has been enabled. The flaw is classified as Improper Access Control [CWE-284] and impacts both the confidentiality and integrity of device configuration.

Critical Impact
Remote unauthenticated attackers can modify router configuration by sending a single crafted UDP packet to devices where ate is enabled.

Affected Products

Tenda RX2 Pro Firmware version 16.03.30.14
Tenda RX2 Pro hardware
Deployments where the ate management service is enabled

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-01 - CVE-2025-46629 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46629

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the ate binary, a management utility present on the Tenda RX2 Pro. This binary listens on a network socket and processes UDP messages that trigger configuration operations on the router. The service does not validate the identity or authorization of the sender before acting on received commands. As a result, any host that can reach the device over the network can issue configuration directives. The CWE-284 classification reflects the absence of an access control layer around a privileged administrative interface exposed on the network.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing authentication and authorization logic within the ate command handler. The service accepts crafted UDP packets and executes the corresponding configuration routines without verifying that the source is an authorized administrator. Because UDP is connectionless, no session establishment or credential exchange occurs before command processing.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network reachability to the router and knowledge of the UDP packet format expected by the ate binary. The attacker sends a crafted UDP datagram to the listening port on a device where ate has been enabled. The service parses the request and applies the requested configuration change. No user interaction, credentials, or prior compromise is needed. Technical details of the packet structure and reproduction steps are documented in the Uturn Blog CVE-2025-46629 Writeup.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46629

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected UDP traffic directed at the ate service port on Tenda RX2 Pro devices from untrusted network segments.
Configuration changes on the router that do not correlate with authorized administrator sessions or logged web UI activity.
Presence of the ate process running on production units, since ate is typically a factory-test tool that should be disabled in shipped firmware.

Detection Strategies

Inspect network flow records for UDP packets destined to Tenda RX2 Pro management interfaces from outside the administrative subnet.
Compare periodic snapshots of router configuration state to detect unauthorized modifications between change windows.
Audit firmware images and running processes on deployed devices to confirm whether ate is enabled.

Monitoring Recommendations

Log and alert on any inbound UDP traffic to the router management plane from non-management VLANs.
Forward router syslog and configuration event data to a centralized data lake for anomaly analysis.
Track the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) probability for CVE-2025-46629, currently at 1.018% (percentile 59.167), for changes indicating increased exploit activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46629

Immediate Actions Required

Verify whether the ate service is enabled on deployed Tenda RX2 Pro units and disable it wherever possible, as it is intended for factory testing.
Restrict access to router management interfaces to trusted administrative networks using firewall rules and VLAN segmentation.
Inventory affected devices running firmware 16.03.30.14 and check the Tenda Official Website for any updated firmware releases.

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or patched firmware release is referenced in the CVE record at the time of publication. Operators should monitor the Tenda Official Website for a firmware update addressing the missing access controls in the ate binary.

Workarounds

Block inbound UDP traffic to the router from untrusted networks, especially from the WAN interface, using upstream network access control lists.
Confine router administration to a dedicated management VLAN reachable only by authorized hosts.
Replace or isolate the device if ate cannot be disabled and firmware without the vulnerable behavior is unavailable.

bash

# Example upstream ACL restricting UDP access to the router management IP
# Only allow the admin workstation to reach the router; drop all other UDP
iptables -A FORWARD -p udp -s 192.0.2.10 -d 192.0.2.1 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p udp -d 192.0.2.1 -j DROP