CVE-2025-62501
📋 TL;DR
A misconfiguration in TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0's SSH hostkey implementation allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks to capture device credentials. This could lead to unauthorized access if credentials are reused elsewhere. The vulnerability affects Archer AX53 v1.0 devices running firmware versions up to 1.3.1 Build 20241120.
💻 Affected Systems
- TP-Link Archer AX53 v1.0
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain full administrative access to the router, potentially compromising the entire network, exfiltrating data, and using the device as a pivot point for further attacks.
Likely Case
Attackers capture administrative credentials during MITM attacks, enabling unauthorized router access and potential network reconnaissance.
If Mitigated
Limited to credential capture during active MITM attacks, with minimal impact if credentials are not reused and proper network segmentation exists.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires man-in-the-middle positioning and specially crafted SSH traffic. No public exploit code has been identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check TP-Link firmware updates post-20241120
Vendor Advisory: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/4943/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Visit TP-Link support page for Archer AX53 v1.0. 2. Download latest firmware version. 3. Log into router admin interface. 4. Navigate to System Tools > Firmware Upgrade. 5. Upload and install the new firmware. 6. Wait for automatic reboot.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable SSH Access
allDisable SSH service if not required for administration
Log into router admin interface and disable SSH in System Tools > Administration
Network Segmentation
allIsolate router management interface from untrusted networks
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit SSH access to trusted IP addresses only
- Monitor SSH authentication logs for unusual activity and implement credential rotation policies
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check firmware version in router admin interface under System Tools > Firmware Upgrade. If version is 1.3.1 Build 20241120 or earlier, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
ssh admin@router-ip 'cat /proc/version' or check web interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version shows a build date after 20241120 and check SSH hostkey configuration is properly implemented.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SSH connection attempts
- Failed SSH authentication from unexpected sources
- SSH hostkey verification failures
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected SSH traffic patterns
- MITM activity on network segments containing router
SIEM Query:
source="router_logs" AND (event="ssh_failed_auth" OR event="ssh_connection") | stats count by src_ip