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The headline’s “over a million” figure was a 2018 Shodan estimate of internet-exposed GPON home routers—not a confirmed count of vulnerable Dasan devices, and not a current exposure count. The known flaws, CVE-2018-10561 and CVE-2018-10562, can combine to enable remote code execution. CISA says the affected product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. If your fiber service uses a Dasan ONT, ask your internet provider to identify it and arrange a supported replacement or retirement.
What did “over a million” mean?
On May 2, 2018, SecurityWeek reported that a Shodan search found more than one million GPON home routers exposed to the internet. The report listed concentrations in Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam. This was a time-bound search result covering exposed GPON devices; it did not establish that every device was a Dasan model, vulnerable, or compromised. It is not a current count. SecurityWeek’s 2018 report
In an update appended May 8, 2018, DASAN Zhone Solutions (DZS) said its ZNID-GPON-25xx series and certain H640-series GPON ONTs on specific software releases were affected. Based on company sales records and field data, DZS estimated fewer than 240,000 potentially impacted units. The company said it lacked direct visibility into the full active installed base, so this was a vendor estimate, not an independently verified count of devices still in use. The report excerpt does not specify the affected software releases. SecurityWeek’s report and DZS update
| Figure | What it measured | Date and uncertainty |
|---|---|---|
| More than one million | GPON home routers Shodan found exposed to the internet, as reported by SecurityWeek | 2018 search result; not a count of confirmed vulnerable Dasan units or a current scan. SecurityWeek |
| Fewer than 240,000 | Potentially impacted GPON ONT units estimated by DZS from its sales records and field data | 2018 vendor estimate; DZS said it could not directly see the complete active installed base. SecurityWeek’s DZS update |
The figures describe different populations and methods, so they are not competing counts of the same fully enumerated set of vulnerable devices. The available sources do not establish how many remain exposed in 2026.
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What are CVE-2018-10561 and CVE-2018-10562?
The two vulnerabilities affect Dasan GPON home routers. NIST’s National Vulnerability Database (NVD) assigns each a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, Critical, and CISA lists both in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. CVE-2018-10561 · CVE-2018-10562 · CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
CVE-2018-10561: authentication bypass
This flaw can let an attacker bypass authentication to reach protected router functions. NVD describes the issue in terms of adding a query string to a device URL. The vulnerability is in the router’s software; changing the administrator password does not fix it.
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Why the combination matters
The authentication bypass can expose functionality that should be protected, while the diagnostic flaw can allow commands to run. CISA says the flaws can combine to permit remote code execution. That creates the potential for remote control of the device and misuse of its network connection. A 2018 warning discussed possibilities such as spying or malware injection, but the cited reporting does not show that every exposed router was compromised or establish a present-day compromise count. Radware’s May 2018 analysis
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How can I tell whether my fiber equipment is affected?
GPON ONTs are fiber access devices that terminate the provider’s optical connection; an ISP may supply or manage one as part of a home fiber service. The 2018 DZS statement named the ZNID-GPON-25xx family and certain H640-series ONTs on specific releases. Because the affected release details are not given in the cited report excerpt, a model name alone may not settle whether a particular unit is affected. Ask your ISP or network operator to confirm the make, model, software version, and approved remedy. DZS statement reported by SecurityWeek
Do not confuse the two GPON vulnerabilities in this article with separate Dasan H660GW CVEs that may appear in NVD searches; they are not the same issues or the basis of the 2018 million-device figure. The available sources do not provide a universal firmware fix or identify a retail ONT that is compatible across providers.
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What should I do if my ISP supplied a Dasan ONT?
- Contact your ISP or network operator promptly. Tell them the equipment is a Dasan GPON device and ask them to verify whether it is affected by CVE-2018-10561 or CVE-2018-10562.
- Provide the device details. Ask the provider to confirm the ONT’s make, model, and software version. Use the label or the provider’s equipment records; do not attempt to test it with an exploit.
- Arrange the provider’s supported action. CISA’s catalog says: “The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use.” Ask the provider how to disconnect the affected ONT without losing service and whether it will replace or retire the equipment. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- Do not substitute arbitrary hardware. A generic Wi-Fi router is not a fiber ONT, and a random retail ONT may not be compatible with or provisioned for your provider’s network. Get an approved equipment plan from the ISP.
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