Vulnerability · CVE-2020-9374
TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmware Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Published Mar 23, 2026 · corrected/updated Mar 23, 2026 · TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmware · evidence confidence very high
On TP-Link TL-WR849N 0.9.1 4.16 devices, a remote command execution vulnerability in the diagnostics area can be exploited when an attacker sends specific shell metacharacters to the panel's traceroute feature.
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2020-9374 is a unknown public vulnerability record for TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmware. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmware is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmware. Published remediation guidance: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: EPSS 42.7%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, vulncheck_kev. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Exploitation and remediation
Exploitation evidence
Confirmed in CISA KEV since Mar 23, 2026. Listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV.
Patch and remediation
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
No public source repository is identified for this product.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Mar 23, 2026 · VulnCheck KEV
Detected
On TP-Link TL-WR849N 0.9.1 4.16 devices, a remote command execution vulnerability in the diagnostics area can be exploited when an attacker sends specific shell metacharacters to the panel's traceroute feature.
Mar 23, 2026 · CISA KEV
Known exploited
Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Affected
- vendor TP-Link tl-wr849n_firmwareversion unspecified
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2020-9374
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2020-9374
30-day exploitation probability 42.7%
first.org - VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2020-9374
On TP-Link TL-WR849N 0.9.1 4.16 devices, a remote command execution vulnerability in the diagnostics area can be exploited when an attacker sends specific shell metacharacters to the panel's traceroute feature.
vulncheck.com