Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-29799

RCE in Totolink X18 Firmware 9.1.0cu.2024_b20220329

Public PoCRCECommand Injection
Published
14 April 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.020 79th percentile
Risk Priority 84 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-29799 is a critical-severity Command Injection (CWE-77) vulnerability in Totolink X18 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059); ranked in the top 21% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-29799 is a command-injection flaw (CWE-77) in the TOTOLINK X18 wireless router running firmware version V9.1.0cu.2024_B20220329. The vulnerability resides in the setOpModeCfg function, where the hostname parameter is passed to a system command without adequate sanitization, allowing arbitrary command execution.

An unauthenticated attacker can exploit the issue over the network by sending a crafted HTTP request containing shell metacharacters in the hostname field. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control of the device, enabling actions such as configuration changes, traffic interception, or use of the router as a foothold for further attacks inside the local network. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the absence of required authentication or user interaction.

The associated EPSS score rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.2264 before settling at the current value of 0.1490, indicating that exploitation interest increased measurably after public disclosure and that the vulnerability merits renewed attention.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A05:2025 Injection

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

TOTOLINK X18 V9.1.0cu.2024_B20220329 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the hostname parameter in the setOpModeCfg function.

CWE(s)
CWE-77

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse the Windows command shell for execution.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.004 Unix Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse Unix shell commands and scripts for execution.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059.008 Network Device CLI Execution
Adversaries may abuse scripting or built-in command line interpreters (CLI) on network devices to execute malicious command and payloads.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-61044Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2023-29803Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2023-29798Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2023-29802Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2025-29209Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2023-29801Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2023-29800Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2024-10966Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2025-1339Same product: Totolink X18
CVE-2025-61045Same product: Totolink X18

Affected Assets

totolink
x18 firmware
9.1.0cu.2024_b20220329

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

—

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.3
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V1.2.9

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and neutralization that prevent command injection.

DE.CM-09 partial match
prevents

Runtime monitoring of software and data can detect anomalous command execution resulting from injection.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Identifying recorded vulnerabilities enables remediation of command-injection flaws before exploitation.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.28 Secure coding mostly match
prevents

Secure coding standards require proper escaping and parameterization of commands, directly eliminating CWE-77.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development catches command-injection vulnerabilities before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates input validation and command construction practices that directly prevent command injection.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for controls against injection flaws including command injection.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles reduce the attack surface but do not prescribe the specific neutralization techniques needed.

A.8.31 Separation of development, test and production environments none match
none

Environment separation limits the blast radius of an exploited command injection but does not prevent the flaw itself.

References