CVE-2019-13266 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

TP-Link Archer C3200 V1 and Archer C2 V1 devices have a vulnerability that allows data transmission between the main network and guest network due to a DHCP Request issue.

Understanding CVE-2019-13266

This CVE describes a lack of proper separation between the main network and guest network on TP-Link Archer C3200 V1 and Archer C2 V1 devices.

What is CVE-2019-13266?

The vulnerability arises from the router mistakenly sending NAK messages to both networks using the same Transaction ID as in the DHCP Request, enabling data transmission between networks.

The Impact of CVE-2019-13266

The vulnerability allows for potential data leakage and unauthorized access between the main and guest networks, compromising network security.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-13266

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient compartmentalization between the main and guest networks
Router sends NAK messages to both networks with the same Transaction ID
Data can be encoded and transmitted between networks

Affected Systems and Versions

TP-Link Archer C3200 V1
TP-Link Archer C2 V1

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the DHCP Request and NAK message exchange to transmit data between networks

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-13266, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the guest network feature on affected devices
Implement VLANs to segregate network traffic
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update router firmware to patch vulnerabilities
Conduct security audits to identify and address network segmentation issues

Patching and Updates

Apply firmware updates provided by TP-Link to fix the DHCP Request vulnerability