CVE-2023-20273
Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection Vulnerability
Cisco IOS XE Web UI
A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject commands with the privileges of root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to inject commands to the underlying operating system with root privileges.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 23 October 2023. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 27 October 2023.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 89.6%, which is higher than 99.8% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2023-20273 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2023-20273.
What does CVE-2023-20273 affect?
CVE-2023-20273 affects Cisco IOS XE Web UI. A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject commands with the privileges of root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to inject commands to the underlying operating system with root privileges.
How severe is CVE-2023-20273?
CVE-2023-20273 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.2. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 89.6%, higher than 99.8% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 27 October 2023.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2023-20273?
Apply the vendor patch for Cisco IOS XE Web UI as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.