# CVE-2012-5687: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can read arbitrary files on TP-LINK TL-WR841N routers via directory traversal in the web management interface.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Nov 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wg7c-4w5w-r4pv

## What is CVE-2012-5687?

CVE-2012-5687 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Nov 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the web-based management feature on the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router with firmware 3.13.9 build 120201 Rel.54965n and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the PATH_INFO to the help/ URI.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-5687?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Tp-Link Tl-Wr841n, Tp-Link Tl-Wr841n Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-5687?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-5687 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-5687 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5687 exists.

Public exploit code:

- TP-Link TL-WA701N / TL-WA701ND - Multiple Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)
- TP-Link Wireless Lite N Access Point Directory Traversal Vulnerability (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2012-6316](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6316/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)
- [CVE-2012-6276](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-6276/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-5687 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-5687 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Nov 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5687 exists.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5687/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5687/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-5687
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-5687
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-5687

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5687/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.