CVE-2023-38588
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedArcher C3150 firmware versions prior to 'Archer C3150(JP)_V2_230511' allows a network-adjacent authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceThis is a command injection vulnerability in TP-Link Archer C3150 routers where a network-adjacent authenticated attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands, likely due to improper input sanitization in the web management interface.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data< 230511CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Adjacent
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Confirm device model is TP-Link Archer C3150Access the router web management interface (typically at 192.168.0.1) and check the device information page, or look at the device label on the physical router hardwareAffected if The device is not a TP-Link Archer C3150 model
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Check the installed firmware versionIn the router web interface, navigate to Status or System settings and locate the firmware version field. Compare the version number against 230511Affected if Firmware version is less than 230511 (e.g., 230419, 221219, etc.)
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Determine if the web management interface is network-accessibleAttempt to access the router web interface from a computer connected to a non-local network segment, or check router firewall settings under Advanced > Security > Access ControlAffected if The web management interface is accessible from WAN or a trusted network segment beyond the local LAN
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Check authentication status and default credentialsVerify if the router requires login to access the management interface. Note that default credentials (admin/admin) are often used on these devicesAffected if The router uses default credentials or has authentication disabled, allowing an attacker to gain authenticated access
A user is affected if they have a TP-Link Archer C3150 router running firmware version lower than 230511 with the web management interface exposed to an untrusted network and accessible to an attacker.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scoped230511
Upgrade the router firmware to version 'Archer C3150(JP)_V2_230511' or later. If immediate patching is not possible, limit network access to the management interface to trusted users only.
Archer C3150(JP)_V2_230511 or later
- 1. Download the fixed firmware version 'Archer C3150(JP)_V2_230511' or later from the official TP-Link website (www.tp-link.com)
- 2. Connect to the TP-Link Archer C3150 router's web management interface via a web browser
- 3. Log in with administrative credentials
- 4. Navigate to the 'System' or 'Firmware Upgrade' section in the management console
- 5. Click 'Browse' or 'Choose File' and select the downloaded firmware file
- 6. Click 'Upgrade' or 'Update' to apply the firmware
- 7. Wait for the upgrade process to complete (do not power off the device)
- 8. After reboot, verify the firmware version in the router's admin panel to confirm the update was successful
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation1.0 h
- Implementation2.0 h
- Testing1.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
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Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2023-38588 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2023-38588 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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