LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2020-5795: UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in TP-Link Archer A7(US)_V5_200721 allows an authenticated admin use...

UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following in TP-Link Archer A7(US)_V5_200721 allows an authenticated admin user, with physical access and network access, to execute arbitrary code after plugging a crafted USB drive into the router.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This issue affects TP-Link Archer A7 v5 firmware Archer A7(US)_V5_200721. A malicious authenticated administrator with both network and physical access could use a crafted USB drive to make the router execute arbitrary code. The business risk is concentrated where these routers are physically accessible or administered by untrusted parties.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted infrastructure risk, not a broad internet worm risk. Prioritize environments where routers are physically accessible, shared, remotely administered by third parties, or protect sensitive network segments.

Technical view

The CVE describes UNIX symbolic link following in the TP-Link Archer A7 v5 firmware build Archer A7(US)_V5_200721. Exploitation requires an authenticated admin user, network access, physical access, and insertion of a crafted USB drive. Successful exploitation may lead to arbitrary code execution on the router.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to TP-Link Archer A7 v5 devices running firmware Archer A7(US)_V5_200721. The source bundle does not identify other products, versions, CPEs, CVSS scoring, or affected deployment modes.

Exploitation context

CISA KEV is false in the provided bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The required conditions are high-friction: administrator authentication, network access, physical access, and a crafted USB device.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sparse. The bundle names symlink following and arbitrary code execution but does not provide CVSS, CWE, patch details, or broader affected-version ranges. Avoid extrapolating beyond Archer A7 v5 firmware Archer A7(US)_V5_200721.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory TP-Link Archer A7 v5 routers and record exact firmware versions.
  • Check TP-Link and Tenable guidance for any fixed firmware or vendor workaround.
  • Restrict router administration to trusted users and management networks.
  • Prevent untrusted USB devices from being connected to affected routers.
  • Replace or isolate affected routers if vendor guidance is unavailable.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any device runs Archer A7(US)_V5_200721 firmware.
  • Verify admin access is limited to authorized administrators only.
  • Review physical access controls around router USB ports.
  • Check whether vendor guidance names a fixed firmware version.
  • Document exceptions where replacement or isolation is chosen.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-5795 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aTP-Link Archer A7 v5Firmware Archer A7(US)_V5_200721Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.