CVE-2025-6541: Tp-link Er706w Firmware RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-6541 Overview

CVE-2025-6541 is an operating system (OS) command injection vulnerability affecting multiple TP-Link Omada and Festa series routers and gateways. An authenticated user with access to the web management interface can execute arbitrary OS commands on the underlying device. The flaw is tracked under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command).

Affected models include the ER605, ER706W, ER706W-4G, ER7206, ER707-M2, ER7212PC, ER7412-M2, ER8411, FR205, FR307-M2, FR365, G36, and G611. TP-Link has published guidance through Omada Networks support.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands on the router, gaining full control of the gateway and pivoting into the protected network.

Affected Products

TP-Link Omada routers: ER605 (2.3.1), ER706W (1.2.1), ER706W-4G (1.2.1), ER7206 (2.2.2), ER707-M2 (1.3.1), ER7212PC (2.1.3), ER7412-M2 (1.1.0), ER8411 (1.3.3)
TP-Link Festa gateways: FR205 (1.0.3), FR307-M2 (1.2.5), FR365 (1.1.10)
TP-Link cellular gateways: G36 (1.1.4), G611 (1.2.2)

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-21 - CVE-2025-6541 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2025-10-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6541

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an authenticated OS command injection in the web management interface of multiple TP-Link Omada and Festa series gateways. A user who can log in to the management UI can supply input that is passed to an underlying shell or command execution function without sufficient neutralization of shell metacharacters.

Successful exploitation grants command execution in the context of the web management process, which on embedded routers typically runs with elevated privileges. This results in complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the device. Because the attack vector is network-based and the affected products are gateways at the network perimeter, a compromised device exposes the entire downstream network.

The issue requires high privileges, meaning a valid administrative session is needed before the command injection can be triggered. Exploitation paths include credential reuse, weak or default credentials, phishing of administrators, and chaining with authentication-related flaws.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command ([CWE-78]). One or more parameters accepted by the web management interface are concatenated into a command string that is passed to a shell interpreter or system call, allowing metacharacters such as ;, |, &, backticks, or $() to alter the executed command.

Attack Vector

An attacker first authenticates to the web management interface over HTTP or HTTPS. The attacker then submits a crafted request to a vulnerable endpoint, embedding shell metacharacters in a parameter that the firmware passes to a shell. The injected command executes on the device with the privileges of the management daemon. Technical specifics are limited in the vendor advisory; see the Omada Networks Security Documentation for the authoritative description and fixed firmware versions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6541

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected administrator logins to the router web UI from unfamiliar source IP addresses or at unusual times.
Outbound connections from the router itself to external hosts, particularly to non-vendor infrastructure or known malicious IPs.
Configuration changes such as new administrative accounts, modified DNS entries, altered firewall or NAT rules, or new VPN tunnels.
Unexplained reboots, firmware downgrades, or persistent processes that are not part of the standard TP-Link image.

Detection Strategies

Monitor HTTP/HTTPS requests to the router management interface for parameters containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, `, $().
Forward router syslog and authentication events to a central log platform and alert on failed-then-successful admin logins.
Inspect north-south traffic for the gateway initiating outbound sessions that do not match firmware update or NTP patterns.
Compare running configuration snapshots against a known-good baseline to detect tampering.

Monitoring Recommendations

Restrict and log all access to the router management plane via a dedicated management VLAN or jump host.
Enable verbose logging on the affected gateways and ship logs to a SIEM or log aggregation platform.
Track firmware version and integrity across all TP-Link Omada and Festa devices in inventory.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6541

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the firmware updates published by TP-Link/Omada Networks for each affected model as referenced in the Omada Networks advisory.
Disable WAN-side access to the web management interface and restrict management to a trusted LAN segment or VPN.
Rotate all administrative credentials on affected devices and remove unused accounts.
Audit device configurations for unauthorized changes introduced before patching.

Patch Information

TP-Link has published security documentation for affected Omada and Festa series products. Refer to the Omada Networks security document 108455 for the list of fixed firmware versions per model. The vulnerable baseline versions identified in NVD include ER605 2.3.1, ER706W 1.2.1, ER706W-4G 1.2.1, ER7206 2.2.2, ER707-M2 1.3.1, ER7212PC 2.1.3, ER7412-M2 1.1.0, ER8411 1.3.3, FR205 1.0.3, FR307-M2 1.2.5, FR365 1.1.10, G36 1.1.4, and G611 1.2.2.

Workarounds

Limit management interface access to specific source IPs using the device ACL (Access Control List) until firmware can be updated.
Enforce strong, unique administrator passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where supported.
Place affected gateways behind an upstream firewall that blocks inbound HTTP/HTTPS to the management plane from untrusted networks.

bash

# Example: restrict router management to a trusted subnet via upstream firewall
# Replace 203.0.113.0/24 with your trusted management network
# and 198.51.100.10 with the router WAN IP
iptables -A FORWARD -s 203.0.113.0/24 -d 198.51.100.10 -p tcp --dport 443 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -d 198.51.100.10 -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 198.51.100.10 -p tcp --dport 80  -j DROP