# CVE-2023-27988: Command injection in NAS326 firmware

> Authenticated administrators can remotely execute OS commands on Zyxel NAS devices due to improper input handling.

- **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:** 30 May 2023
- **Updated:** 14 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wc8j-6g5m-3r95

## What is CVE-2023-27988?

CVE-2023-27988 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Zyxel NAS326 firmware, published on 30 May 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The post-authentication command injection vulnerability in the Zyxel NAS326 firmware versions prior to V5.21(AAZF.13)C0 could allow an authenticated attacker with administrator privileges to execute some operating system (OS) commands on an affected device remotely.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-27988?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Zyxel Nas326 Firmware, Zyxel Nas540 Firmware, Zyxel Nas542 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-27988?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-27988 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-27988 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27988 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Zyxel NAS326 firmware

- [CVE-2023-27992](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27992/): Zyxel Multiple NAS Devices Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-6342](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-6342/): Command injection in NAS326 firmware (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29972](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29972/): Command injection in NAS326 firmware (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29973](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29973/): Command injection in NAS326 firmware (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-29974](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-29974/): File upload in NAS326 firmware (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-27988 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-27988 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Zyxel NAS326 firmware, published on 30 May 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27988 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Zyxel NAS326 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-2023-27988/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27988/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-27988
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27988
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-27988

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27988/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.