# CVE-2023-20048: Missing authorization in Cisco Firepower Management Center

> An authenticated attacker can execute unauthorized configuration commands on managed FTD devices due to insufficient authorization checks in the FMC web interface.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 16 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jg9m-wr8w-vhxv

## What is CVE-2023-20048?

CVE-2023-20048 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, published on 1 Nov 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web services interface of Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute certain unauthorized configuration commands on a Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) device that is managed by the FMC Software. This vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization of configuration commands that are sent through the web service interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the FMC web services interface and sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute certain configuration commands on the targeted FTD device. To successfully exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need valid credentials on the FMC Software.

Weakness: CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization), CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20048?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20048?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20048 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-20048 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20048 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- PoC and exploit scripts for CVE-2023-20048 - Remote Code Execution vulnerability affecting Cisco RV series routers.  Includes a vulnerability checker (PoC) and a working exploit for gaining remote shell access. For educational and research purposes only. (github_poc): https://github.com/oguzhanozuzun301/cisco-rv-rce-poc
- A CLI tool for detecting CVE-2023-20048 vulnerability in Cisco Firepower Management Center. (github_poc): https://github.com/0zer0d4y/FuegoTest

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center

- [CVE-2026-20079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20079/): Cisco Firewall Management Center Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-20131](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20131/): Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center (FMC) Software and Cisco Security Cloud Control (SCC) Firewall Management Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-20316](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20316/): Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Use of Hard-coded Password (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20265](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20265/): Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center Software Radius Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2024-20424](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-20424/): Command injection in Cisco Firepower Management Center (critical 9.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20048 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20048 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center, published on 1 Nov 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20048 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. 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-2023-20048/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20048/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20048
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20048
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20048

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20048/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.