# CVE-2023-33538: TP-Link - RCE

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-33538 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-33538

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 8.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** TP-Link
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection'))
- **Tags:** firewall

## Description

TP-Link TL-WR940N V2/V4, TL-WR841N V8/V10, and TL-WR740N V1/V2 was discovered to contain a command injection vulnerability via the component /userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm .

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-33538](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-33538) is a command injection vulnerability affecting multiple TP-Link router models, including TL-WR940N, TL-WR841N, and TL-WR740N, through the /userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm component. Attackers with limited privileges can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the device, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of network services.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 12th of September 2025.

CrowdSec has not observed any significant exploitation activity targeting CVE-2023-33538 across its network. As a result, no community-driven trend analysis is available for this vulnerability at this time.

Attackers exploit the router's web interface by sending crafted requests to `/userRpm/WlanNetworkRpm.htm`, injecting OS commands via the `ssid1` parameter to achieve command execution or establish a reverse shell.

## Timeline

- 2023-06-07: CVE Published. CVE-2023-33538 is published to NVD.
- 2025-06-16: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-33538 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2025-07-07: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-09-12: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-33538 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2026-04-18: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-33538 for the first time.

## References

- https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/3562/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230609111043/https://github.com/a101e-IoTvul/iotvul/blob/main/tp-link/3/TL-WR940N_TL-WR841N_userRpm_WlanNetworkRpm_Command_Injection.md
- https://www.secpod.com/blog/cisa-issues-warning-on-active-exploitation-of-tp-link-vulnerability-cve-2023-33538/
- https://github.com/rix4uni/cvemapping/blob/main/2023/CVE-2023-33538/tplink.py

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-33538) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-33538. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.