CVE-2025-53472 Overview
CVE-2025-53472 is an OS command injection vulnerability affecting Elecom WRC-BE36QS-B and WRC-W701-B wireless routers. The flaw resides in the device WebGUI and allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands. Successful exploitation grants the attacker command execution in the context of the router's underlying operating system, enabling full compromise of the device. The weakness is categorized under [CWE-78] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command). Authentication to the WebGUI is required, which constrains the attack surface but does not eliminate risk in environments with weak, default, or shared administrative credentials.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on affected Elecom routers through the WebGUI, leading to complete device compromise.
Affected Products
- Elecom WRC-BE36QS-B wireless router
- Elecom WRC-W701-B wireless router
- WebGUI management interface on the above devices
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-22 - CVE-2025-53472 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-53472
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an OS command injection flaw [CWE-78] in the WebGUI of Elecom WRC-BE36QS-B and WRC-W701-B routers. The WebGUI fails to properly neutralize special characters before passing user-supplied input to an underlying shell or system command interpreter. An attacker who can authenticate to the WebGUI can craft HTTP requests containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, backticks, pipes, or command substitution syntax. These characters are concatenated into a system command and executed by the router's operating system. The result is arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the WebGUI process, which on consumer and small-office routers is typically root.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization in WebGUI handlers that invoke shell commands. User-controlled parameters from the management interface are concatenated directly into command strings without escaping or validation. The application does not enforce an allowlist of permitted characters and does not use parameterized command execution APIs.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An attacker requires high privileges, specifically valid credentials for the WebGUI, but no user interaction. The attacker authenticates to the WebGUI over HTTP or HTTPS, then submits a request to a vulnerable endpoint with shell metacharacters embedded in a parameter. The injected payload is executed by the router's operating system. No verified public exploit code is currently available. See the JVN Vulnerability Report and the Elecom Security News Release for vendor-confirmed technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53472
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected outbound connections from router management interfaces to unknown IP addresses or domains.
- Modified router firmware, configuration files, or persistent processes that do not match the vendor baseline.
- Authenticated WebGUI sessions originating from unusual source IPs, especially outside normal administrative hours.
- HTTP POST requests to WebGUI endpoints containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, `, or $().
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WebGUI access logs for parameter values containing shell metacharacters or encoded equivalents.
- Monitor router DNS queries and outbound traffic for anomalies suggesting command-and-control or data exfiltration.
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that flag command injection patterns in HTTP traffic to router management interfaces.
- Compare running configuration and firmware hashes against known-good vendor baselines.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Restrict WebGUI access to a dedicated management VLAN and log all authentication attempts.
- Forward router syslog data to a centralized logging platform for retention and correlation.
- Alert on repeated failed logins followed by successful authentication, which may indicate credential brute force preceding exploitation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53472
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the firmware update published by Elecom for WRC-BE36QS-B and WRC-W701-B as referenced in the Elecom Security News Release.
- Change default and shared WebGUI administrator credentials to strong, unique passwords.
- Disable WebGUI access from WAN interfaces and limit LAN-side access to trusted management hosts.
- Audit existing WebGUI accounts and remove any unauthorized or unused users.
Patch Information
Elecom has published an advisory and firmware guidance for the affected models. Refer to the Elecom Security News Release and the coordinated JVN Vulnerability Report for the latest firmware version and update instructions. Apply the vendor-supplied firmware to remove the vulnerable code path.
Workarounds
- Disable remote management of the WebGUI over the WAN interface until firmware can be applied.
- Place affected routers behind a network segmentation boundary that restricts inbound access to the management interface.
- Enforce strong, unique administrator passwords and rotate credentials after applying the patch.
- Monitor router logs for suspicious authenticated activity and unexpected configuration changes.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
