CVE-2025-51457: D-Link DAP-2610 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-51457 Overview

CVE-2025-51457 is an authenticated command injection vulnerability affecting D-Link DAP-2610 access points running firmware versions up to 2.06B08r099. The flaw resides in the device's web management interface at the /index.xgi endpoint. An attacker who has authenticated to the device can supply crafted values to vulnerable parameters and execute arbitrary operating system commands. Successful exploitation grants command execution in the context of the web interface process, which typically runs with elevated privileges on embedded devices. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary system commands on affected D-Link DAP-2610 access points, enabling full device compromise and potential pivoting into the internal network.

Affected Products

D-Link DAP-2610 access point
Firmware versions up to and including 2.06B08r099
Devices exposing the web management interface on reachable network segments

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-25 - CVE-2025-51457 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-09-25 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-51457

Vulnerability Analysis

The D-Link DAP-2610 web interface exposes an administrative endpoint at /index.xgi that processes parameters supplied by authenticated users. Several of these parameters are passed to underlying system shell invocations without proper neutralization of command metacharacters. An attacker who injects shell operators such as ;, |, backticks, or $() into a vulnerable parameter causes the device to execute attacker-supplied commands alongside the intended operation.

Because the DAP-2610 is a BusyBox-based embedded platform, injected commands run with the privileges of the web server process, which commonly executes as root on this class of hardware. This yields full device control, including configuration modification, credential extraction, firmware tampering, and establishment of persistent access.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in a command [CWE-77]. The vulnerable handler constructs a system command by concatenating user-supplied parameter values directly into a shell invocation. Without input validation or safe process APIs, shell metacharacters embedded in the parameters are interpreted by the shell rather than treated as literal data.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the device's web management interface and valid authentication credentials. An attacker sends an HTTP request to /index.xgi containing a crafted value in an affected parameter. The shell parses the injected sequence, executes the attacker's command, and returns execution results that can be used to escalate the attack. Chained with credential reuse, default credentials, or a separate authentication bypass, this vulnerability can serve as the initial access and persistence stage against exposed access points.

No verified public proof-of-concept is referenced in the advisory. Refer to the D-Link Security Advisory SAP10428 for vendor-provided technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-51457

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /index.xgi containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, backticks, or $() in parameter values
Unexpected outbound connections originating from DAP-2610 management interfaces to attacker-controlled hosts
Modified device configuration, new administrative accounts, or altered firmware images on affected access points
Authentication events to the DAP-2610 web interface from unusual source addresses preceding abnormal device behavior

Detection Strategies

Inspect network traffic to access-point management interfaces for HTTP POST or GET requests targeting /index.xgi with suspicious parameter payloads
Alert on administrative sessions to DAP-2610 devices originating from non-management network segments
Correlate authentication events on the device with subsequent outbound traffic patterns inconsistent with normal operation

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server and system logs from DAP-2610 devices to a centralized logging platform for retention and analysis
Baseline normal HTTP traffic to the management interface and alert on deviations, particularly parameter values containing shell operators
Monitor for firmware integrity changes and configuration drift on access-point fleets

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-51457

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the firmware update published by D-Link in Security Advisory SAP10428 as soon as it is available for your region
Restrict access to the DAP-2610 web management interface to a dedicated management VLAN or jump host
Rotate administrative credentials on all DAP-2610 devices and remove any unused accounts
Audit device configurations and firmware checksums for signs of prior compromise

Patch Information

D-Link has published guidance in Security Advisory SAP10428 and the broader D-Link Security Bulletin. Administrators should review these advisories to identify the fixed firmware version applicable to their hardware revision and deployment region, and plan upgrade windows accordingly.

Workarounds

Disable remote management on the WAN interface and limit administrative access to trusted internal networks
Place access-point management interfaces behind network access control lists that permit only authorized administrator source addresses
Enforce strong, unique administrative passwords and remove default credentials to raise the barrier for exploitation
Where feasible, decommission end-of-support DAP-2610 units and migrate to a supported hardware platform

bash

# Example ACL restricting management access to a dedicated subnet
# Apply on the upstream switch or firewall protecting the access point
access-list MGMT_ONLY permit tcp 10.10.50.0/24 host 10.20.0.15 eq 443
access-list MGMT_ONLY permit tcp 10.10.50.0/24 host 10.20.0.15 eq 80
access-list MGMT_ONLY deny   tcp any host 10.20.0.15 eq 443
access-list MGMT_ONLY deny   tcp any host 10.20.0.15 eq 80