---
title: "CVE-2023-50224: TP-Link TL-WR841N Authentication Bypass by Spoofing Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-50224/
description: "CVE-2023-50224 (TP-Link TL-WR841N): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-05-03
date_modified: 2026-09-02
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-50224"
kev: true
cvss: 6.5
epss: 0.20021
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-50224: TP-Link TL-WR841N Authentication Bypass by Spoofing Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run TP-Link TL-WR841N. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-09-03, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-09-24 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 20.0% , percentile 97: FIRST’s model estimates a 20.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 97% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.

## What it is

TP-Link TL-WR841N dropbearpwd Improper Authentication Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows network-adjacent attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of TP-Link TL-WR841N routers. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the httpd service, which listens on TCP port 80 by default. The issue results from improper authentication. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose stored credentials, leading to further compromise. Was ZDI-CAN-19899.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- TP-Link TL-WR841N: 3.16.9 build 200409, V8, V9, V10, V11, V12
- TP-Link TL-WR841ND: V8, V9, V10, V11, V12
- TP-Link TL-MR6400: V1, V2
- TP-Link Archer C5: V2
- TP-Link Archer C7: V2, V3
- TP-Link TL-WDR3600: V2
- TP-Link TL-WDR4300: V1
- TP-Link TL-WDR3500: V2
- TP-Link TL-WR740N: V4, V5, V6, V7
- TP-Link TL-WR741ND: V4, V5, V6

## Severity

- zdi CVSS 3.1: 6.5 `CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2025-09-03; federal due date 2025-09-24. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact partial .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 20.02% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 97.

## Sources

- [vendor-provided URL](https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/download/tl-wr841n/v12/#Firmware)
- [vendor-advisory](https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/5058/)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (tp-link.com)](https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/4308/)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-50224](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-50224)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-50224](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50224)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-50224)
- [ZDI-23-1808](https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-1808/)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-50224/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt