# CVE-2023-1671: Sophos Web Appliance Command Injection

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code on Sophos Web Appliance via a pre-auth command injection in the warn-proceed handler.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 16 Nov 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5f37-m2hf-qphr

## What is CVE-2023-1671?

CVE-2023-1671 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Sophos Web Appliance, published on 4 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A pre-auth command injection vulnerability in the warn-proceed handler of Sophos Web Appliance older than version 4.3.10.4 allows execution of arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1671?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sophos Web Appliance.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1671?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-1671 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 7 Dec 2023.

## Is CVE-2023-1671 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-1671 in the wild since at least 16 Nov 2023.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2023-1671-POC, based on dnslog platform (github_poc): https://github.com/W01fh4cker/CVE-2023-1671-POC
- Pre-Auth RCE in Sophos Web Appliance (github_poc): https://github.com/ohnonoyesyes/CVE-2023-1671
- Sophos Web Appliance 4.3.10.4 - Pre-auth command injection (exploitdb)
- Exploit to cve-2023-1671. So there is a test and exploitation function. The test sends a ping request to the dnslog domain from the vulnerable site. If the ping passes, the vulnerability exists, if it doesn't, then cve-2023-1671 is missing. The exploit function, on the other hand, sends a request with your command to the server. (github_poc): https://github.com/csffs/cve-2023-1671
- Sophos Web Appliance - Remote Code Execution (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-1671.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Sophos Web Appliance

- [CVE-2017-6182](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6182/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2013-2642](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2642/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2014-2849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2849/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2014-2850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2850/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2017-6412](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6412/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1671 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1671 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Sophos Web Appliance, published on 4 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-1671 in the wild since at least 16 Nov 2023.

Affected product: Sophos Web Appliance. 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-2023-1671/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1671/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1671
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1671
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1671

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1671/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.