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CVE-2026-118865NVD status: Deferred

Archer AX3000 v2: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

CVE-2026-118865 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Archer AX3000 v2 from TP-Link, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.1.3 Build 261026 as the first without the flaw, so updating Archer AX3000 v2 to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.88% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 60% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Archer AX3000 v2 to 1.1.3 Build 261026 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
TP-LinkArcher AX3000 v2before 1.1.3 Build 2610261.1.3 Build 261026

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Attack requirements
PresentThe target must be in a specific state or configuration for the attack to work.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
Integrity (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
Availability (vulnerable system)
HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
Confidentiality (other systems)
NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Integrity (other systems)
NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Availability (other systems)
NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA.

Official description

An authenticated OS command injection vulnerability exists in the Offline Download component (USB storage allocation) of Archer AX3000 v2. When a USB storage device is attached, an authenticated administrator can submit a crafted path value containing shell metacharacters that is not properly neutralized before being passed to a system command. Successful exploitation may allow arbitrary command execution on the affected device.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities

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