CVE-2025-6485: Totolink A3002r Firmware RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-6485 Overview

CVE-2025-6485 is an operating system (OS) command injection vulnerability [CWE-77] in the TOTOLINK A3002R router running firmware version 1.1.1-B20200824.0128. The flaw resides in the formWlSiteSurvey function within the /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey endpoint. Attackers manipulate the wlanif argument to inject arbitrary shell commands that the device executes. The attack is initiated remotely over the network, and public exploit details have been disclosed.

Critical Impact
Authenticated remote attackers can inject OS commands into the wlanif parameter of /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey, leading to arbitrary command execution on the router.

Affected Products

TOTOLINK A3002R hardware router
TOTOLINK A3002R firmware 1.1.1-B20200824.0128
Deployments exposing the web management interface /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-22 - CVE-2025-6485 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6485

Vulnerability Analysis

The TOTOLINK A3002R router exposes a boa web server that handles wireless configuration through form handlers. The formWlSiteSurvey handler processes a wireless site survey request and reads the wlanif parameter from the HTTP request body. The handler passes this attacker-controlled string to a shell execution routine without input sanitization or argument escaping.

Because the parameter reaches a shell interpreter, metacharacters such as ;, |, and backticks allow an attacker to append arbitrary commands. Successful exploitation runs commands with the privileges of the boa process, which typically executes as root on TOTOLINK consumer routers. That access enables configuration modification, credential theft, persistent implants, and pivoting into internal networks.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing neutralization of special elements in a command [CWE-77]. The formWlSiteSurvey function concatenates the wlanif value directly into a shell command string invoked through a system()-style call. No allowlist, character filter, or safe argument-passing API is applied before execution.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the router's web administration interface and a valid low-privilege session, as indicated by the CVSS vector's PR:L requirement. The attacker sends a crafted HTTP POST to /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey with the wlanif field containing a shell metacharacter followed by an arbitrary command. Technical write-up details are available in the GitHub vulnerability documentation and VulDB entry #313593.

No verified exploit code is included here. Refer to the linked references for reproduction details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6485

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST requests to /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, backticks, $() in the wlanif parameter
Unexpected outbound connections from the router to attacker-controlled infrastructure following administrative sessions
Router configuration changes, new user accounts, or altered DNS settings appearing without administrator action

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server and reverse proxy logs for anomalous parameter values submitted to /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey
Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that flag command injection patterns in HTTP request bodies destined for TOTOLINK management interfaces
Correlate authentication events on the router with subsequent outbound traffic to identify post-authentication exploitation

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward router syslog and web access logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and query
Alert on any administrative interface exposure to untrusted network segments or the public internet
Baseline normal management-plane traffic and alert on deviations in request volume or parameter length to /boafrm/* endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6485

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the router web administration interface to trusted management VLANs and block WAN-side exposure
Rotate administrative credentials on affected TOTOLINK A3002R devices to invalidate any captured sessions
Audit router configurations, DNS entries, port forwards, and account lists for unauthorized modifications

Patch Information

No vendor advisory or firmware patch has been published in the referenced sources at the time of writing. Monitor the TOTOLINK official website for firmware updates addressing CVE-2025-6485. Consider replacing end-of-support hardware if no fix becomes available.

Workarounds

Disable remote management on the WAN interface and limit administrative access to a dedicated internal subnet
Place the router behind a network firewall that filters HTTP requests targeting /boafrm/formWlSiteSurvey with suspicious wlanif values
Segment the router from sensitive internal assets so that compromise does not grant lateral movement paths

bash

# Configuration example: block external access to the management interface
iptables -I INPUT -i wan0 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -I INPUT -i wan0 -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP