# CVE-2022-45440: Path traversal in AX7501-B0 firmware

> A local administrator can access the root file system via symbolic links on external storage in the Zyxel AX7501-B0 FTP server.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 17 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rpwq-xw4m-459x

## What is CVE-2022-45440?

CVE-2022-45440 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Zyxel AX7501-B0 firmware, published on 17 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability exists in the FTP server of the Zyxel AX7501-B0 firmware prior to V5.17(ABPC.3)C0, which processes symbolic links on external storage media. A local authenticated attacker with administrator privileges could abuse this vulnerability to access the root file system by creating a symbolic link on external storage media, such as a USB flash drive, and then logging into the FTP server on a vulnerable device.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-45440?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zyxel Ax7501-B0 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-45440?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-45440 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-45440 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45440 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Zyxel AX7501-B0 firmware

- [CVE-2025-8693](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-8693/): Command injection in DX3300-T0 firmware (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-26413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26413/): Command injection in VMG3312-T20A firmware (high 8.0)
- [CVE-2024-8748](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-8748/): Memory corruption in VMG8825-T50K firmware (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-5412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-5412/): Memory corruption in VMG8825-T50K firmware (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-12009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-12009/): Command injection in EX5601-T1 firmware (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-45440 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-45440 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Zyxel AX7501-B0 firmware, published on 17 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-45440 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Zyxel AX7501-B0 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-2022-45440/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45440/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-45440
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-45440
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-45440

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45440/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.