CVE-2025-14553
📋 TL;DR
The TP-Link Tapo mobile app for iOS and Android exposes password hashes through an unauthenticated API response, allowing attackers on the same local network to retrieve and brute-force camera passwords. This affects users of Tapo cameras who haven't updated their mobile apps. The vulnerability requires local network access but doesn't require authentication.
💻 Affected Systems
- TP-Link Tapo mobile app
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain full control of Tapo cameras, enabling unauthorized video access, camera manipulation, or integration into botnets.
Likely Case
Local network attackers compromise camera credentials, potentially accessing live feeds and recorded footage.
If Mitigated
With updated mobile apps, password hashes are no longer exposed, preventing hash retrieval and brute-force attacks.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local network access but no authentication. Attackers can retrieve password hashes via API calls.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Latest version from app stores
Vendor Advisory: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/4840/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 2. Search for 'TP-Link Tapo'. 3. Tap 'Update' if available. 4. Launch the updated app.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network segmentation
allIsolate IoT devices on separate VLANs to limit lateral movement.
Disable unused features
allTurn off unnecessary camera features in the Tapo app to reduce attack surface.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disconnect cameras from network when not in use
- Change camera passwords to strong, unique passwords
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if Tapo app version is outdated in app store. Vulnerable if not updated after vulnerability disclosure.Check Version:
In Tapo app: Settings > About > VersionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm app version matches latest in app store and test API responses no longer contain password hashes.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual API calls to camera endpoints from unauthorized IPs
- Multiple failed login attempts
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic to camera ports from non-mobile devices
- Brute-force patterns in network traffic
SIEM Query:
source="network_traffic" dest_port=* dest_ip=camera_ip | search "POST /api/*" | stats count by src_ip