CVE-2022-29778
Published: 03 June 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-29778 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in Dlink Dir-890L Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 3.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2022-29778 is a high-severity vulnerability in the D-Link DIR-890L router running firmware version 1.20b01. It arises from a hardcoded Wake-On-Lan value assigned to the descriptor parameter within SetVirtualServerSettings.php, which is classified under CWE-798 and permits remote arbitrary code execution.
An attacker with valid credentials and network access to the device can supply a crafted descriptor value to the affected endpoint, achieving code execution that compromises the router's confidentiality, integrity, and availability without requiring user interaction.
D-Link security bulletins reference the issue and direct users to firmware updates or configuration changes, though the linked advisories do not detail specific patch versions or workarounds beyond general remediation guidance.
The EPSS score rose from lower post-disclosure levels to a peak of 0.2524 on 2025-12-11 before receding to the current 0.2310, indicating later-emerging exploitation interest that warrants renewed attention. Public proof-of-concept code is available on GitHub.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-34099
Vulnerability details
D-Link DIR-890L 1.20b01 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code due to the hardcoded option Wake-On-Lan for the parameter 'descriptor' at SetVirtualServerSettings.php
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Enables users to notice when hard-coded credentials have been exploited for unauthorized access.
Security training explicitly warns against hard-coded credentials, lowering their use in systems.
Policy and procedures prohibit hard-coded credentials in favor of managed authentication.
External identity providers eliminate the need for hard-coded credentials in applications.
Changing default authenticators prior to first use and protecting content prevents use of hard-coded credentials.
Central credential stores and rotation policies remove the need for hard-coded credentials in configuration files or code.
Intelligence programs surface reports of campaigns that abuse hard-coded credentials in products, prompting removal or replacement and thereby reducing successful exploitation.
Planned investment enables secure credential storage and management systems instead of hard-coded credentials.