# CVE-2018-18728: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Tenda AC9, AC15, and AC18 routers by injecting shell metacharacters into the usbName field.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3f4j-7hmm-p7m3

## What is CVE-2018-18728?

CVE-2018-18728 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Tenda Ac15 Firmware, published on 28 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered on Tenda AC9 V15.03.05.19(6318)_CN, AC15 V15.03.05.19_CN, and AC18 V15.03.05.19(6318)_CN devices. They allow remote code execution via shell metacharacters in the usbName field to the __fastcall function with a POST request.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-18728?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Tenda Ac15 Firmware, Tenda Ac18 Firmware, Tenda Ac9 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-18728?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-18728 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-18728 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18728 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Tenda Ac15 Firmware

- [CVE-2020-10987](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10987/): Tenda AC1900 Router AC15 Model Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24103](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24103/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-24101](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24101/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2026-24105](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24105/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-63666](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-63666/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-18728 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-18728 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Tenda Ac15 Firmware, published on 28 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18728 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Tenda Ac15 Firmware. 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-2018-18728/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18728/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-18728
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-18728
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-18728

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18728/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.