CVE-2026-24430: Tenda W30e Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2026-24430 Overview

CVE-2026-24430 is a sensitive data exposure vulnerability affecting Shenzhen Tenda W30E V2 firmware versions up to and including V16.01.0.19(5037). The vulnerability occurs because the device's maintenance interface discloses sensitive account credentials in cleartext within HTTP responses. Since the management interface is accessible over unencrypted HTTP by default, these credentials may be exposed to network-based interception by attackers positioned on the same network segment.

This information disclosure vulnerability (CWE-201) allows attackers to capture administrator credentials through passive network monitoring or active man-in-the-middle attacks, potentially leading to complete device compromise.

Critical Impact

Cleartext credential exposure in HTTP responses enables network-based credential theft, allowing attackers to gain full administrative access to affected Tenda W30E devices.

Affected Products

• Tenda W30E Firmware versions up to and including V16.01.0.19(5037)
• Tenda W30E Hardware Version 2.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-26 - CVE-2026-24430 published to NVD
• 2026-01-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24430

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from insecure handling of sensitive credentials within the Tenda W30E V2 device's web-based maintenance interface. When administrators interact with certain management functions, the device generates HTTP responses that contain account credentials in plaintext format. This design flaw violates fundamental security principles regarding credential protection.

The issue is compounded by the device's default configuration, which serves the management interface over unencrypted HTTP rather than HTTPS. This means that any network traffic between the administrator's browser and the device can be captured and analyzed by an attacker with access to the network path.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2026-24430 is the improper insertion of sensitive information into HTTP responses (CWE-201: Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data). The firmware fails to implement proper credential handling practices, specifically:

1. Credentials are stored or processed in a manner that results in their inclusion in HTTP response bodies
2. The management interface lacks HTTPS enforcement, allowing credentials to traverse the network in cleartext
3. No redaction or masking mechanisms are in place to prevent credential exposure in responses

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring the attacker to have visibility into network traffic between an administrator and the vulnerable device. Exploitation can occur through:

Passive Interception: An attacker positioned on the same network segment can use packet capture tools to monitor HTTP traffic to and from the device. When an administrator accesses the maintenance interface, the attacker captures the HTTP responses containing cleartext credentials.

Active Man-in-the-Middle: An attacker can perform ARP spoofing or other network-level attacks to position themselves between the administrator and the device, intercepting all management traffic and extracting credentials in real-time.

Once credentials are obtained, the attacker can authenticate to the device with full administrative privileges, enabling configuration changes, firmware modifications, or use of the device as a pivot point for further network attacks.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24430

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual network traffic patterns to/from the Tenda W30E management interface on HTTP ports
• Evidence of ARP spoofing or other man-in-the-middle activity on network segments containing affected devices
• Unauthorized configuration changes on Tenda W30E devices
• Multiple failed or successful authentication attempts from unexpected IP addresses

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for unencrypted HTTP communications to known Tenda W30E device IP addresses
• Implement network-based intrusion detection rules to alert on cleartext credential patterns in HTTP traffic
• Review device access logs for authentication events from unauthorized sources
• Deploy network traffic analysis tools to identify potential credential harvesting activity

Monitoring Recommendations

• Segment Tenda W30E devices onto isolated management VLANs with restricted access
• Implement network monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns involving affected firmware versions
• Enable logging on network infrastructure to track access to device management interfaces
• Consider deploying SentinelOne Singularity for network visibility and threat detection capabilities

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24430

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the Tenda W30E management interface to trusted administrator workstations only
• Implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from general network traffic
• Deploy a reverse proxy with HTTPS termination in front of the management interface if possible
• Monitor for firmware updates from Tenda that address this vulnerability
• Consider replacing affected devices with alternatives that support secure management protocols

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2026-01-28, no vendor patch has been publicly announced for this vulnerability. Administrators should monitor the Tenda W30E Product Page for firmware updates and security advisories. Additional technical details are available in the VulnCheck Advisory for Tenda W30E.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network access controls limiting management interface access to specific trusted IP addresses
• Deploy the device behind a VPN, requiring VPN authentication before management interface access
• Use a jump host or bastion server for all administrative access to the device
• Disable remote management access if not required and use console access only
• Implement network-level encryption (such as IPsec) for traffic to and from the device

# Example network segmentation using firewall rules
# Restrict access to Tenda W30E management interface (replace with actual device IP)
iptables -A INPUT -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -s 192.168.1.10 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP