CVE-2023-50224: TP-Link TL-WR841N authentication bypass in httpd service

CVE-2023-50224 · Severity: critical · CVSS 6.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-09-03

The TP-Link TL-WR841N is a wireless router used for home and small office networking. A security flaw allows an attacker on the same local network to bypass security checks and steal stored login credentials. This could lead to a full takeover of the device and the network it manages. Because this product may be at its end-of-life, users are advised to replace the hardware if updates are unavailable.

Technologies: TP-Link TL-WR841N. Vendors: TP-Link.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2023-50224 exploited in the wild?
Yes. CVE-2023-50224 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 September 2025. Treat it as urgent.
How severe is CVE-2023-50224?
Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 3 September 2025.
Which products and versions are affected?
TP-Link TL-WR841N v12 (Firmware 3.16.9 Build 200409).
Is there a fix for CVE-2023-50224?
No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
How is CVE-2023-50224 attacked?
It is attacked from the adjacent network, in a network appliance.
Am I affected by CVE-2023-50224?
Check whether you run TP-Link TL-WR841N at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

An improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-290) exists in the 'dropbearpwd' component of the httpd service on TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. The service, which listens on TCP port 80, fails to correctly validate authentication requests, allowing a network-adjacent attacker to bypass security controls without valid credentials. Successful exploitation enables the attacker to disclose sensitive information, specifically stored credentials, which can be used for further administrative compromise of the device. This vulnerability has been observed in active exploitation according to CISA.

Affected products

  • TP-Link TL-WR841N v12 (Firmware 3.16.9 Build 200409)

Timeline

  • 2024-05-02: disclosed: Initial report by Zero Day Initiative
  • 2025-09-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

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