CVE-2023-50224
CVE-2023-50224 is a security flaw in TP-Link TL-WR841N, routers for homes and small offices. Attackers can get into TP-Link TL-WR841N without a valid password. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 3 Sep 2025.[1]
TP-Link TL-WR841N is in things households have: home and small-office routers, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 12.0 of tl-wr841n_firmware.
Description
CISA calls it an authentication bypass by spoofing in TP-Link TL-WR841N. In its words: “TP-Link TL-WR841N contains an authentication bypass by spoofing vulnerability within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default, leading to the disclose of stored credentials. The impacted products could be end-of-life (EoL) and/or end-of-service (EoS). Users should discontinue product utilization.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. Was ZDI-CAN-19899.”[2]
The underlying weakness is authentication bypass by spoofing (CWE-290), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| tl-wr841n_firmware | 12.0 |
Every device with TP-Link TL-WR841N needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 3 Sep 2025, 488 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 24 Sep 2025 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 20%. That’s in the top 3% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
TP-Link has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Update TP-Link TL-WR841N now.Open the router’s app, or its admin page in a browser, and look for a firmware update. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 12.0 or later.Fixed in version 12.0 of tl-wr841n_firmware. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If the maker has stopped updating it, replace it.Routers stop getting fixes after a few years, and attackers keep a list of the ones that did. If there’s no newer firmware, it won’t be fixed.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 6.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 20%.[4] |
See also
Other TP-Link flaws
- CVE-2025-9377, TP-Link Multiple Routers: archer C7(EU) and TL-WR841N/ND(MS) OS command injection ·
- CVE-2020-24363, TP-Link TL-WA855RE: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2023-33538, TP-Link Multiple Routers: command injection ·
- CVE-2023-1389, TP-Link Archer AX21: archer AX-21 command injection ·
- CVE-2015-3035, TP-Link Multiple Archer Devices: directory traversal ·
Other authentication bypass by spoofing flaws
- CVE-2026-102764, BeyondTrust Remote Support: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2026-104935, Ivanti Connect Secure: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2024-54085, AMI MegaRAC SPx: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2024-4358, Progress Telerik Report Server: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2022-24112, Apache APISIX: authentication bypass ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2025-9377, TP-Link Multiple Routers: archer C7(EU) and TL-WR841N/ND(MS) OS command injection ·
Every TP-Link flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2025
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “TP-Link TL-WR841N Authentication Bypass by Spoofing Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 3 Sep 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-50224 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 3 May 2024.
- ^ TP-Link. Advisories and fixes: tp-link.com, tp-link.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.200, percentile 97.4, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-50224”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.