CVE-2023-20273

A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated,...

7.2 HighIn KEVPublic exploit

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: High
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

92.9%Up 91.8 points since Oct 25, 2023

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 7.2

Record: CVE-2023-20273
CVSS 3.1: 7.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-78
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2023-24452 7.2

Record: EUVD-2023-24452
CVSS 3.1: 7.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-xm3x-5hpf-5369 7.2

A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated,...

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.

Record: GHSA-xm3x-5hpf-5369
CVSS 3.1: 7.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-78
Updated: 2026-11-02

CISA KEV No score

Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection Vulnerability

Cisco IOS XE contains a command injection vulnerability in the web user interface. When chained with CVE-2023-20198, the attacker can leverage the new local user to elevate privilege to root and write the implant to the file system. Cisco identified CVE-2023-20273 as the vulnerability exploited to deploy the implant. CVE-2021-1435, previously associated with the exploitation events, is no longer believed to be related to this activity.

Record: CVE-2023-20273
Weakness: CWE-78
Updated: 2026-11-02

NVD 7.2

Record: CVE-2023-20273
CVSS 3.1: 7.2 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-78
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Public exploits

Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.

Public exploits
Source	Link	Date
Metasploit	Cisco IOX XE Unauthenticated RCE Chain	2023-10-16
PoC in GitHub	smokeintheshell/CVE-2023-20273	2023-12-09
Metasploit	Cisco IOX XE unauthenticated OS command execution	2023-10-16

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	exploitation, exploits
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, Metasploit, NVD, PoC in GitHub

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-20273 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.2) in Cisco Ios Xe Software, published October 24, 2023. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since October 23, 2023. EUVD reports exploitation since October 23, 2023. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 92.9%, the 99th percentile. No source names a fixed version.