CVE-2026-9151 — Command Injection Vulnerability in OpenVPN on Multiple TP-Link Archer Routers
An OS command injection vulnerability exists in the VPN module of TP-Link Archer AX12 v1, AX17 v1. AX18 v1, and AX1300 v1.6 routers. This vulnerability allows an adjacent, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the device by importing a specially crafted VPN client configuration file. The issue stems from improper filtering of special characters. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may enable an attacker to gain full control of the affected device, potentially compromising configuration integrity, network security, and service availability.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 2.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+13
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (TP-Link Systems Inc. Archer AX12 v1, TP-Link Systems Inc. Archer AX1300 v1.6, TP-Link Systems Inc. Archer AX17 v1…).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (injection), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link Systems Inc. | Archer AX12 v1 | < V1_1.5.0 Build 20260605 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| TP-Link Systems Inc. | Archer AX1300 v1.6 | < V1_1.5.0 Build 20260605 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| TP-Link Systems Inc. | Archer AX17 v1 | < V1_1.5.0 Build 20260605 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| TP-Link Systems Inc. | Archer AX18 v1 | < V1_1.5.0 Build 20260605 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | CVSS 4.0 | High | — | — | f23511db-6c3e-4e32-a477-6aa17d310630 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.5 | CVSS 4.0 | High | — | — | TPLink via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L/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 (score shown at the top: f23511db-6c3e-4e32-a477-6aa17d310630) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 2.54%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Look for parameters with command/query metacharacters and unexpected child processes of the service.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · tp-link systems inc./archer ax12 v1, tp-link systems inc./archer ax18 v1, tp link systems inc./archer ax17 v1, tp-link s
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 8.5
- Source status changed · → Deferred
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
5 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2025-62673 Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Archer AX53 and AX12 Feb 3, 2026
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-9151 is "Command Injection Vulnerability in OpenVPN on Multiple TP-Link Archer Routers", rated High. It affects Archer AX12 v1 (TP-Link Systems Inc.); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 2.54% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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