# CVE-2023-22914: Path traversal in USG FLEX series firmware

> Remote authenticated administrators can execute unauthorized OS commands via path traversal in the account_print.cgi program when hotspot is enabled.

- **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:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 12 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3pc2-c878-63rj

## What is CVE-2023-22914?

CVE-2023-22914 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Zyxel USG FLEX series firmware, published on 24 Apr 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A path traversal vulnerability in the “account_print.cgi” CGI program of Zyxel USG FLEX series firmware versions 4.50 through 5.35, and VPN series firmware versions 4.30 through 5.35, which could allow a remote authenticated attacker with administrator privileges to execute unauthorized OS commands in the “tmp” directory by uploading a crafted file if the hotspot function were enabled.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-22914?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Zyxel Usg Flex 100 Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 100w Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 200 Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 500 Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 50 Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 50w Firmware, Zyxel Usg Flex 700 Firmware, Zyxel Vpn1000 Firmware, Zyxel Vpn100 Firmware, Zyxel Vpn300 Firmware, Zyxel Vpn50 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-22914?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-22914 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-22914 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-22914 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Zyxel USG FLEX series firmware

- [CVE-2023-22913](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22913/): Command injection in USG FLEX series firmware (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-22914 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-22914 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Zyxel USG FLEX series firmware, published on 24 Apr 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-22914 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Zyxel USG FLEX series firmware. 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-2023-22914/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22914/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-22914
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22914
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-22914

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22914/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.