CVE-2023-20198 Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation
Attackers exploit a web UI flaw to create local users and gain initial access, facilitating privilege escalation and implant installation on Cisco IOS XE devices.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 16 Oct 2023
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2023-20198?
CVE-2023-20198 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 16 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. We are updating the list of fixed releases and adding the Software Checker. Our investigation has determined that the actors exploited two previously unknown issues. The attacker first exploited CVE-2023-20198 to gain initial access and issued a privilege 15 command to create a local user and password combination. This allowed the user to log in with normal user access. The attacker then exploited another component of the web UI feature, leveraging the new local user to elevate privilege to root and write the implant to the file system. Cisco has assigned CVE-2023-20273 to this issue. CVE-2023-20198 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 10.0. CVE-2023-20273 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 7.2. Both of these CVEs are being tracked by CSCwh87343.
Weakness: CWE-420
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20198?
It affects 3 products.
Products include Cisco Ios Xe, Rockwellautomation Allen-Bradley Stratix 5200 Firmware, Rockwellautomation Allen-Bradley Stratix 5800 Firmware.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20198?
No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20198 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 20 Oct 2023.
Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.
Is CVE-2023-20198 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-20198 in the wild since at least 16 Oct 2023.
Public exploit code: 3 Metasploit modules, 1 Nuclei template and 36 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xe
- CVE-2018-0151 Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution
- CVE-2023-20273 Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection
- CVE-2025-20188 Hardcoded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software
- CVE-2021-34770 Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Family Wireless Controllers CAPWAP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2019-12643 Cisco REST API Container for IOS XE Software Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Sources
Also known as GHSA-4xrf-pcxr-rf3c.