CVE-2025-58455: TP-Link Archer AX53 Buffer Overflow Flaw

CVE-2025-58455 Overview

A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 within the tmpserver modules. This vulnerability allows authenticated adjacent network attackers to cause a segmentation fault or potentially execute arbitrary code by sending a specially crafted network packet whose length exceeds the maximum expected value. The flaw stems from improper boundary checking when processing network packets, which can lead to memory corruption and system compromise.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers on the adjacent network can exploit this vulnerability to crash the device or achieve arbitrary code execution, potentially gaining full control of the affected router.

Affected Products

• TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 through firmware version 1.3.1 Build 20241120
• TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 with tmpserver modules enabled
• All TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 devices running vulnerable firmware versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-03 - CVE-2025-58455 published to NVD
• 2026-02-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-58455

Vulnerability Analysis

This heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) occurs in the tmpserver modules of the TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 router firmware. When the router processes incoming network packets, it allocates a fixed-size buffer on the heap to store packet data. However, the vulnerable code fails to properly validate the length of incoming packets against the allocated buffer size before copying data into memory.

When an attacker sends a packet with a length field that exceeds the maximum expected value, the data overwrites adjacent heap memory. This memory corruption can result in a segmentation fault, causing the service to crash, or under controlled conditions, can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution by overwriting critical heap metadata or function pointers.

The attack requires the adversary to be authenticated and positioned on the adjacent network (same local network segment as the target router). While this limits the attack surface compared to remote vulnerabilities, it remains a significant risk in scenarios where an attacker has compromised another device on the local network or has local network access.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation in the tmpserver modules. The code fails to implement proper bounds checking when processing the length field of incoming network packets. Specifically, the packet handling routine does not verify that the declared packet length does not exceed the size of the pre-allocated heap buffer, allowing oversized data to be written beyond the intended memory boundaries.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-58455 is adjacent network-based, requiring the attacker to have authenticated access and be on the same network segment as the vulnerable router. The attacker crafts a malicious network packet with a length value that exceeds the buffer capacity in the tmpserver modules. When this packet is processed by the router, the oversized payload overflows the heap buffer, corrupting adjacent memory regions.

The exploitation flow involves:

1. Gaining authenticated access to the local network where the target TP-Link Archer AX53 router resides
2. Crafting a specially constructed network packet with an oversized length field
3. Sending the malicious packet to trigger the heap overflow in the tmpserver modules
4. Achieving denial of service through segmentation fault or potentially executing arbitrary code through controlled memory corruption

The vulnerability mechanism involves improper handling of packet length values in the tmpserver modules. When a crafted packet with an excessive length field is received, the heap buffer allocated for processing is overflowed, leading to memory corruption. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Talos Intelligence Vulnerability Reports.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-58455

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected segmentation faults or crashes in the tmpserver process on TP-Link Archer AX53 devices
• Anomalous network packets with unusually large length fields directed at the router
• Sudden router reboots or service interruptions without administrative action
• Evidence of heap corruption or memory-related errors in device logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for malformed packets with abnormally large length values targeting the router's management interfaces
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify potential buffer overflow exploit attempts
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect exploitation attempts and anomalous process behavior on network devices
• Review router system logs for segmentation fault events or tmpserver module crashes

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable logging on network devices to capture packet processing errors and service crashes
• Configure alerting for repeated authentication attempts from adjacent network hosts
• Monitor for unexpected changes in router configuration or firmware
• Implement network segmentation to limit adjacent network attack surface

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-58455

Immediate Actions Required

• Update TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0 firmware to the latest version available from TP-Link
• Restrict network access to trusted devices only using MAC filtering or network segmentation
• Disable unnecessary services and modules on the router if possible
• Monitor the device for signs of exploitation or unexpected behavior

Patch Information

TP-Link has released firmware updates to address this vulnerability. Users should download and install the latest firmware from the TP-Link Archer AX53 Firmware Download page. The vulnerable firmware versions include all releases through 1.3.1 Build 20241120. For additional security guidance, refer to the TP-Link FAQ on Security Issues.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network segmentation to isolate the router from untrusted devices
• Enable strong authentication mechanisms and limit administrative access to trusted hosts
• Consider deploying a firewall or IDS/IPS solution to monitor and filter malicious traffic
• If firmware updates are unavailable, consider replacing the device with a model that receives regular security updates

# Network segmentation example using iptables on a gateway device
# Restrict adjacent network access to the router management interface
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.1 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.1 -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.1 -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP