# CVE-2026-118238: Tenda W18E command injection in web management diagnose feature

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-118238-the-tenda-w18e-web-management-server-is-vulnerable-to-os-command  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-30. Updated: 2026-10-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-118238 · Severity: info · Published 2026-10-30

The Tenda W18E is a wireless router whose web management interface contains a packet-capture diagnostic tool vulnerable to OS command injection. An attacker can inject shell commands through JSON input fields, which are executed with root privileges on the router. Devices in factory-reset state can be exploited without authentication, potentially allowing an attacker to take over the router and access or modify network traffic.

Vendors: [Tenda](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/tenda).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-118238 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-118238 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-118238?** Informational severity, published 30 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Tenda W18E v16.01.0.20 (4766) and likely others.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-118238?** 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-2026-118238 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-118238?** Check whether you run Tenda W18E 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

The vulnerability is an OS command injection in the web server's diagnostic packet-capture feature due to insufficient validation of JSON protocol and targetDevice fields. These fields are concatenated into a tcpdump command and executed via system() with root privileges. An authenticated user can exploit this, or any user if the device is in factory-reset state with default credentials enabled.

## Affected products

- Tenda W18E v16.01.0.20 (4766) and likely others

## Timeline

- 2026-10-27: disclosed: Technical write-up published
- 2026-10-30: advisory

## References

- [https://cushz.github.io/en/exploit-development/2026/10/27/hacking-routers-for-fun-and-not-profit.html](https://cushz.github.io/en/exploit-development/2026/10/27/hacking-routers-for-fun-and-not-profit.html)