CVE-2025-9582: Comfast CF-N1 Firmware RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-9582 Overview

CVE-2025-9582 is a command injection vulnerability affecting the Comfast CF-N1 wireless access point running firmware version 2.6.0. The flaw resides in the ntp_timezone function within the /usr/bin/webmgnt binary. Attackers can manipulate the timestr argument to inject arbitrary operating system commands. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely and requires low-level authenticated access to the device's web management interface. A public exploit has been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against exposed devices.

Critical Impact

Authenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands on affected Comfast CF-N1 devices by injecting shell metacharacters into the timestr parameter handled by the NTP timezone configuration function.

Affected Products

• Comfast CF-N1 firmware version 2.6.0
• Comfast CF-N1 hardware device
• /usr/bin/webmgnt web management binary

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-08-28 - CVE-2025-9582 published to NVD
• 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-9582

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the ntp_timezone function exported by the /usr/bin/webmgnt binary on the Comfast CF-N1 access point. This function processes user-supplied input through the timestr argument when configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) timezone settings. The function passes this input to a shell or system call without proper sanitization, enabling command injection [CWE-77] and improper neutralization of special elements [CWE-74].

The attack vector is the network, and exploitation requires low-privileged authenticated access to the web management interface. Successful exploitation grants the attacker command execution within the context of the web management process, typically root on embedded Linux-based access points.

Root Cause

The ntp_timezone handler concatenates the attacker-controlled timestr value directly into a shell command string. The absence of input validation, escaping, or use of safe execution primitives such as execve with argument arrays allows shell metacharacters like ;, |, &&, and backticks to break out of the intended command context.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the web management endpoint that invokes ntp_timezone. The request includes a timestr parameter containing shell metacharacters followed by attacker-supplied commands. The injected payload executes when the device processes the timezone update. Refer to the GitHub NTP Timezone Repository and VulDB entry #321695 for technical proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-9582

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP POST requests to the webmgnt interface containing shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $()) in the timestr parameter.
• Unexpected child processes spawned from the webmgnt binary, particularly shell interpreters or networking utilities such as wget, curl, nc, or telnetd.
• Outbound connections from the access point to unknown hosts following NTP configuration changes.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web management access logs for requests targeting NTP timezone configuration with non-standard timezone strings.
• Monitor for process creation anomalies where webmgnt spawns interpreters or downloads payloads.
• Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that match common command injection payload patterns in HTTP request bodies destined for the device management interface.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Restrict the web management interface to trusted management VLANs and log all administrative access attempts.
• Forward syslog output from the device to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation with network telemetry.
• Alert on configuration changes to NTP settings performed outside approved change windows.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-9582

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove the Comfast CF-N1 web management interface from any internet-exposed network segment.
• Rotate administrative credentials and disable any default accounts on affected devices.
• Audit recent NTP and timezone configuration changes for signs of tampering.

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor patch is referenced in the available advisories for Comfast CF-N1 firmware 2.6.0. Operators should monitor the VulDB record and Comfast vendor channels for firmware updates that remediate the ntp_timezone input handling.

Workarounds

• Place affected devices behind a firewall that blocks all inbound access to HTTP and HTTPS management ports from untrusted networks.
• Restrict administrative access using source IP allowlists where the device supports such configuration.
• Decommission and replace end-of-support devices that cannot be isolated or patched.

# Configuration example: restrict management access using upstream firewall rules
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <CF-N1-IP> --dport 80 -s <trusted-mgmt-subnet> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <CF-N1-IP> --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <CF-N1-IP> --dport 443 -s <trusted-mgmt-subnet> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d <CF-N1-IP> --dport 443 -j DROP