# CVE-2023-20273: Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection

> Authenticated attackers can inject OS commands with root privileges via the web UI due to insufficient input validation.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 23 Oct 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xm3x-5hpf-5369

## What is CVE-2023-20273?

CVE-2023-20273 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 24 Oct 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20273?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Ios Xe.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-20273?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20273 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 27 Oct 2023.

## Is CVE-2023-20273 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-20273 in the wild since at least 23 Oct 2023.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2023-20273 Exploit PoC (github_poc): https://github.com/smokeintheshell/CVE-2023-20273
- Cisco IOX XE unauthenticated OS command execution (metasploit)
- Cisco IOX XE Unauthenticated RCE Chain (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xe

- [CVE-2023-20198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20198/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-0151](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0151/): Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20188/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-34770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34770/): Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Family Wireless Controllers CAPWAP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2019-12643](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12643/): Cisco REST API Container for IOS XE Software Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-20273 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-20273 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 24 Oct 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-20273 in the wild since at least 23 Oct 2023.

Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe. 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-2023-20273/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20273/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20273
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20273
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-20273

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20273/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.